Braille: Practical Uses and Considerations

Learning and using braille may be intimidating to people with vision loss. Many people with low vision think that they’ll only need braille if they lose all vision. But learning and using braille can improve common daily activities.

Benefits may include:

Completing common tasks without help.
Improving task efficiency in tasks.
Supporting independence.

By learning and using braille, people with low vision or blindness can improve their efficiency and independence in daily life.

What is Braille?

Braille is a tactile code designed to help people with blindness or low vision read and write independently. It uses manually or electronically created dots. These dots stand for letters, words, numbers, and symbols found in printed materials.

Here are some key points about braille:

Braille uses a series of six dots.
Different combinations of dots form the code for reading and writing.
It enables access to written information for people with visual impairments.

By learning braille, people with low vision or blindness can interact with written materials.

Learning Braille

Learning braille might feel intimidating at first, but with practice, most people overcome this feeling. Working with a blind rehabilitation specialist is an effective way to learn braille. These specialists, known as vision rehabilitation therapists, are experts in teaching braille.

Benefits of working with a vision rehabilitation therapist:

They understand how to teach braille effectively.
They personalize the learning process based on your needs.
They help you find resources for practice.
They show you how to use braille to improve efficiency in daily tasks.

By working with a vision rehabilitation therapist, you can learn braille to enhance independence in daily life.

Practical Uses

Some people may think braille is only for reading large books or long files. However, many people use braille to supplement what they are reading with magnification or electronics. Braille has practical uses that can help someone rest their eyes or use tactile methods for quick tasks. This allows them to use their vision for other tasks later.

Practical uses of braille:

Labeling and identifying medication.
Reading signage, like restroom signs or room numbers.
Using elevator floor buttons and confirming the correct floors.
Marking appliances at home or work.
Writing down a phone number, email, or location.
Taking quick notes in a meeting.
Labeling files or documents for later use.
Recreational activities like playing cards.

For those looking to complete tasks quickly and efficiently, braille can be a great solution. While some use braille for reading large books, many find these practical uses very helpful.

Additional Considerations

Learning braille may seem difficult at first, but resources and support are available. You can get guidance from an instructor or seek help elsewhere. People can decide how and when they use braille, based on their goals and interests.

Key points about braille:

Braille follows patterns and repetition. For instance, the first ten letters of the alphabet also represent numbers.
Knowledge of these patterns can build confidence in learning the basic code.
Learning braille helps people with vision loss maintain independence, expand abilities, and remain safe.

By learning braille, we empower ourselves to enhance independence and potential.

Blind Rehabilitation Services

Blind rehabilitation services help the community learn braille. Service members and veterans may be eligible to get services from VA Blind Rehabilitation Services. Not sure which services you’re eligible for? Contact your state vocational rehabilitation agency for more information.