History
In 1812, a three-year-old French boy named Louis Braille injured his left eye. An infection developed which spread to his right eye. Soon, the child was blind. At age 10, Braille's parents sent him to the National Institute for the Blind in Paris. There, he learned to read large, raised letters. Due to the size of the embossed letters, books for the blind were expensive.

At the same time, Captain Charles Barbie had just introduced an alphabetic code used for night time military communications. This system featured a series of raised dots.

Combining elements of both systems, 15-year-old Braille created his own raised-dot reading system. His "braille cells" represented 63 individual letters, numbers, and symbols. Each cell featured two dots across and three dots down. These embossed cells were the same size as printed letters.

Braille Today

Two centuries later, the braille system is still in use. Its many forms include:

• American Literary Braille;
• British Braille;
• Computer Braille;
• Grade 1 Braille;
• Literary Braille (Grade 2);
• Music Braille;
• Nemeth Code Braille.

Writing Braille

A slate and stylus were the first instruments used to write braille. A slate is a small hinged device with holes in the upper portion and indentations in the lower portion. A stylus is a pen-like object with which to create individual dots on a piece of paper.

The next invention for braille communications was known as a braille writer. Similar to a typewriter, braille writers feature six keys and a space bar. braille writers produce embossed braille cells on paper.

Computers and Braille

In the 1980s, Braille computer software was developed. Additional aids include voice recognition software, special computer keyboards, and optical scanners. These devices can input, output and translate documents to and from Braille. Generally, each page of printed material yields two to three Braille pages. The newer Braille programs can create double-sided Braille pages.

Transcribing Services

Persons without a personal computer, can use the services of a Braille transcribing company. Certified transcribers transform documents both from and into Braille. These companies are often associated with societies for the blind. Additional transcribing services are available on the Internet.

Technology for the Blind

Many new products are now available for the blind. Some of these products are available through specialty suppliers while others are available on the Internet.

• braille computer keytop - embossed braille letters adhere to a computer keyboard;
• electric fry pan with brailled controls;
• four-alarm pill box - reminds patients to take their medicine;
• braille games and toys - animal blocks for children, bingo, playing cards, checkers, chess, computer games, dice, dominoes, Monopoly (the British version), Scrabble, and tic-tac-toe;
• watches - feature a hinged face for tactile reading of time.

Talking Products, Including:

• blood pressure/pulse meters;
• calculators;
• computer bar code scanners;
• currency scanners (available in Spanish and English for U.S. currency);
• heart rate monitors;
• microwave ovens;
• organizers with an appointment book, phone book, alarm clock, calculator, and note pad;

• pedometers;
• portable cassette recorders for books on tape;
• scales;
• tape measures (in feet and meters);
• thermometers which compare the last recorded temperature;
• watches.

Lions and the Blind

Lions clubs perform many community services for persons who are blind. These activities include:

• sponsoring guide dogs;
• supporting guide dog schools;
• providing scholarships for blind students;
• supporting vocational training programs;
• facilitating self-help groups for the blind/visually impaired;
• furnishing talking books, braille books, or large print books for a public library;
• supporting Lions camps for the blind/visually impaired;
• supporting recreational activities for the blind/visually impaired;
• providing devices such as white canes, braillers, or computers;
• supporting eye research.

For more information, e-mail the Program Planning Department at International Headquarters at: programs@lionsclubs.org