January is Braille Month and the 4201 Schools Association recognized National Braille Day on Monday, January 4, 2021.
Braille Day highlights the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its celebration coincides with the birthday of Louis Braille, who was born on January 4, 1809 in France. He was blinded following a childhood accident. As a teenager he developed a touch, reading and writing system that was initially adopted in the United States in 1860 by the St. Louis School for the Blind. The coding system continued to evolve and today reflects a unified English code.
Lavelle School for the Blind and the New York Institute for Special Education, both members of the 4201 Schools Association, recognized Braille Day on January 4, 2021 across its communities by underscoring the importance of literacy and learning through the use of Braille and the benefits it provides for people with disabilities.
Click here to visit Lavelle School for the Blind’s Facebook post. To view the post by the New York Institute for Special Education, click here.