200 Years of Braille

On Wednesday, I attended an event at the Scottish Parliament to mark 200 years of the invention of Braille, hosted by the Presiding Officer with French Consul, Stephane Pailler and the speakers.

Developed in France by a teenage Louis Braille (1809-1852), who was blind at age three, Braille is a raised point reading and writing system officially adopted two years after his death.

The event, hosted in partnership with the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), celebrated Braille’s lasting impact on accessibility for blind and partially sighted individuals in Scotland.

Around the world, six million people use Braille to read and write.

Currently, an estimated 180,000 people in Scotland are living with full or partial sight loss.

However, a study from the RNIB found that nine out of ten blind and partially sighted people said that information on medication or food packaging was quite difficult or impossible to read.

Although technology has made accessibility much easier, many Braille users report a feeling of isolation and a loss of independence upon losing their sight. That’s why the work the RNIB does is so important.

The RNIB provides vital services such as emotional and practical support, campaigning for accessible formats, and offering training to help blind and partially sighted people live independently.

The charity also runs a talking books library, provides specialist education resources, and advocates for improvements in employment accessibility.

Their work has transformed lives by ensuring that those with sight loss have equal opportunities in education, employment, and daily life.

With me is Jackie Dunbar MSP, Provost Anthea Dickson and Emma Harper MSP.