Definition of Braille

Braille is a system of touch reading for the blind which employs embossed dots evenly arranged in quadrangular letter spaces or cells. In each cell, it is possible to place six dots, three high and two wide. By selecting one or several dots in characteristic position or combination, 63 different characters can be formed. To aid in describing these characters by their dot or dots, the six dots of the cell are numbered 1, 2, 3, downward on the left, and 4, 5, 6, downward on the right.

Literary braille, as officially approved, comprises two levels. Uncontracted braille is in full spelling and consists of the letters of the alphabet, punctuation, numbers, and a number of composition signs that are special to braille. Contracted braille consists of uncontracted braille and 189 contractions and short-form words, and should be known as "English Braille." There are also other specialized braille codes that use the same arrangement of dots. Currently these are: Nemeth Code Mathematics and Science Notation, Braille Code for Columned Materials and Tables, Braille Code for Chemical Notation, Braille Music Notation, and Code for Computer Braille Notation.
(Excerpted from Braille Authority of North America)

Benefits of Braille

Braille instruction benefits students who are functionally blind in the following ways:

• Braille allows reading and writing skills to be developed.
• Because literacy is based on the ability to read and write, braille is the only media available for obtaining literacy for people who use their tactile sense as the primary means of gathering information.
• Braille allows the student who is functionally blind to have the same "written" materials in the classroom as sighted peers.
• Braille allows for instruction in correct written language usage such as structuring sentences, spelling, formatting paragraphs and editing.
• Braille allows the selection of a book or magazine for the pleasure of reading independently at any time or place without additional equipment.