World Braille Day 2026; January 4th.

FORUM: "Honoring the Louis Braille Legacy." World Braille Day 2026. Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font. Over the years, technology has enhanced Braille accessibility with innovations like electronic Braille displays and devices. Braille is more than a way to read because it can empower individuals with visual disabilities to help pursue education, participate in their communities, and achieve their goals. Businesses can make a big difference by adding Braille to their spaces. Things like Braille signs, menus, and product labels help customers with visual disabilities feel welcome. Let’s celebrate braille and keep braillists informed with up-to-the-minute braille tools. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Worldbrailleday, #LouisBraille, #braille, #4January, #Braillecode.

EVENTS: On Sunday, January 4th, for World Braille Day 2026; The United Nations Department of Global Communications, the UNESCO, the DGACM and United Nations Regional Information Centres will host a webinar to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille. Classes, workshops, and consultations give you all the support you’ll need to understand and adapt to vision loss. Find offerings for children, youth, adults, and everyone in between. All Offerings. Register to participate!

WORKSHOPS: Join the upcoming workshops!

World Braille Day 2025; January 4th.

FORUM: "Honoring the Louis Braille Legacy." World Braille Day 2025. Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font. Let’s celebrate braille and keep braillists informed with up-to-the-minute braille tools. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Worldbrailleday, #LouisBraille, #braille, #4January, #Braillecode.

EVENTS: On Saturday, January 4th, for World Braille Day 2025; The United Nations Department of Global Communications, the UNESCO, the DGACM and United Nations Regional Information Centres will host a webinar to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille.

PUBLICATION: World Braille usage: a survey of efforts towards uniformity of Braille notation.

WEBINARS: Saturday is World Braille Day, an opportunity to celebrate the power of Braille in transforming lives.

Braille empowers blind and partially-sighted people to fully realize their human rights, offering access to education, employment and independence. As an essential means of communication, Braille breaks down barriers, fostering inclusion and equality —and plays a vital role in achieving the #GlobalGoals for a fairer, more accessible world.

World Braille Day 2024; January 4th.

FORUM: "Honoring the Louis Braille Legacy." World Braille Day 2024. Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Worldbrailleday, #LouisBraille, #braille, #4January, #Braillecode.

EVENTS: On Thrusday, January 4th, for World Braille Day 2024; The United Nations Department of Global Communications, the UNESCO, the DGACM and United Nations Regional Information Centres will host a webinar to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille.

WEBINARS: Enhance Braille Literacy, hosted by the California School for the Blind.

PUBLICATION: World Braille usage: a survey of efforts towards uniformity of Braille notation.

CAMPAIGN: Everyone deserves, and is legally entitled to, information in a format they can understand and this day raises awareness of braille as an additional accessible format.

World Braille Day 2023; January 4th.

FORUM: Today we celebrate inclusive design with World Braille Day This incredible writing system was invented by Louis Braille in 1806. For thousands of years, the ability of blind people to participate fully in social, political, and cultural life was limited by the lack of access to written or printed forms of information. Although the work of many others contributed to his accomplishment, Louis Braille's invention of a tactile six-dot reading and writing system revolutionized the way blind people perceived and contributed to the world. Follow the conversations with the hastags: #worldBrailleDay, #4January, #Braille.

EVENTS: Join the webinar to mark the World Braille Day 2023.

World Braille Day 2022; January 4.

The system was invented by Frenchman Louis Braille nearly 200 years ago. Braille is a tactile language used by blind and partially sighted people. Combinations of raised dots represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols, so that books and periodicals can be read through touch.

 
Access for all

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates at least one billion people globally have a near or distance vision impairment that could have been prevented, or has yet to be addressed. Life under lockdown has posed challenges for the visually impaired, including in terms of independence and isolation, according to the UN. TheCOVID-19 Pandemic has also revealed the importance of having information available in Braille and audio formats, otherwise many persons with disabilities could face higher risk of contamination. The pandemic has also underscored the need to ramp up digital accessibility for all people.


Disability-inclusive response

During the pandemic, several UN agencies have been implementing good practices towards a disability-inclusive response and disseminating information in Braille.

For example, in Malawi, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has produced more than 4,000 braille materials on awareness and prevention of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, the UN human rights office (OHCHR), disseminated audio information, as well as education and communication materials, to media professionals, and developed Braille versions of the educational messages.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also produced guidance notes in multiple languages and accessible formats, including Braille and ‘easy-to-read’ versions.

Its note on COVID-19: Considerations for Children and Adults with Disabilities addresses issues that include access to information; water, sanitation and hygiene; healthcare, education, child protection, and mental health and psychosocial support.

Awareness of human rights

The UN General Assembly established 4 January as  World Braille Day in 2019 to raise awareness of the role Braille has in the full realization of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the blind and partially sighted. Braille is essential in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion, as outlined under article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.




In a post on Twitter, the President of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, commended Braille as a tool for freedom of expression, access to information and social inclusion."This has never been truer than in the times of isolation brought on by #COVID19," he wrote.

Braille at UN Geneva

EXHIBITS: Louis Braille: His Legacy and Influence. Online Exhibition at Library of Congress.