Learning Braille

What is Braille?

Learning to read Braille is not solely for the visually impaired. Braille is a reading and writing system used by the blind and visually impaired. It consists of a series of raised dots that represent the letters of the alphabet, symbols, punctuation marks, mathematics and scientific characters, music, computer notation and foreign languages.

Braille is not a language in the traditional sense, rather it is a code. All languages can be written in braille as braille is universal. By using and learning braille, people who are visually impaired can study the written word and can gain a greater level of literacy. As a result, the learner can become familiar with spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and other formatting considerations.

Why should I learn Braille?

Braille is mainly used by people who are blind or deafblind, and can be of great help to them in their lives. Learning braille endows the student with intellectual freedom, equal opportunity, and personal security. 

The study of braille is not limited to those from the visually impaired community however, teachers, parents and others who are not visually impaired can also learn it, for a variety of reasons, from teaching others to being better able to understand and empathise with loved ones. 

Having the ability to swiftly and accurately access literary material is a huge benefit of learning braille. That level of productivity will be vastly beneficial to all learners. According to the RNIB; ‘Many of the people we spoke with feel that reading braille allows them to better retain information from a book or website than by just listening to it.’ The student will be able to make notes for themselves in classes or for presentations.  

Embarking on a course in Braille will also teach the student how to use a Perkins brailler or braille notetaker. These are very useful tools to be able to utilise. Using these appliances, the learner can make notes, create not cards and have a physical track record of their learning as they move through any further education course they might take up in the future or aid them  in delivering concise accurate presentations within any workplace. 

Another benefit of studying Braille can be to obtain greater independence in the home. Appliances such as microwaves, fridges, washing machines and dryers can all be labelled in braille.  This also goes for the contents of fridges and cupboards, and even labelling books for childrens backpacks, lunch packs and items of clothing. Once you begin to learn the opportunities for betterment are endless. 

What can I do with a Braille qualification?

As mentioned above, achieving a qualification in braille can be hugely beneficial not just for the visually impaired, but also for others too. Braille opens opportunities up for people with sight impairments in a way that they would not previously have been prior. It can help in academic study and can assist in day to day living for people who have sight issues. For people wanting to learn braille who are not visually impaired it opens up a new form of literacy to them. Learners can embark on a teaching career to teach people how to read braille. It will also enable the families and loved ones of the visually impared to better communicate with them and help them in their day to day lives. 

Find courses to learn how to read braille on Courses.ie