The bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille will be celebrated, worldwide, in 2009.
Canada Celebrates: The Bicentenary of the Birth of Louis Braille
In 1824, a blind Frenchman created and perfected a simple, effective and efficient system of reading and writing by touch. While many had tried before, it fell to 15-year-old Louis Braille to create something that actually met the needs of people who would use it. In the world of vision loss, the invention of Braille must be compared to the invention of the printing press – its birth was nothing short of a revolution. Today, in the digital age, Braille is more relevant than ever, touching the lives of tens of millions of blind, deafblind and visually impaired people worldwide. Available in virtually every language, Braille provides endless possibilities for education, achievement and independence through literacy.
Join the festivities!
In 2009, the world will mark the 200th birthday of Louis Braille with widespread celebrations. Braille200 is the Canadian banner for special events which are being planned and organized by the World Braille Foundation in cooperation with CNIB, the World Blind Union, the Canadian Braille Authority and other literacy groups in Canada. Activities are planned across Canada, including conferences, dedicated scholarships, and awareness and advocacy events.
Canadian Braille200 Committe
You are invited to join the celebrations! On this website, you can learn about Braille and its history, read stories by people who use Braille in their daily lives, find out about upcoming Braille200 events and activities, and view multimedia materials about Louis Braille and his remarkable system.