World Braille Day 2025 – A Retrospective Look Back and Reasons to Be Cheerful

What’s This About?

World Braille Day, celebrated globally and annually on 4^th January; A French boy who changed everything for blind people including the author of this Blog when he set the stage 200 years ago and a UK first World Braille Day Conference organised by blind people for blind people.

Most people will know, or at least, have some idea of the story of Louis Braille but, may be less familiar with World Braille Day, which has only been officially celebrated since 2019.

For those of us who utilise Braille, attempting to describe, in relatively concise terms, the life changing impact this code of dots has on us can be difficult. Join me over the next few paragraphs for a personal perspective and find out what I was doing on this truly momentous day which saw me, gathered with around 50 other likeminded enthusiasts at New College in the historic city of Worcester, England.

What’s the Back Story?

World Braille Day, or WBD, as it has become affectionally known, honours the Frenchman, Louis Braille, who invented the Braille system in 1824 at the age of just 15. Blinded in an accident as a child, he developed his tactile writing system to empower visually impaired individuals with access to education, literacy, and independence. The day commemorates the legacy and evolution of the Braille system which continues to provide accessibility and inclusivity to millions of people everywhere.

The Braille Trail?

I was introduced to the Braille code when I was 5 or 6 at the specialist school I attended. For various reasons including my feeling as though I’d be judged as negatively different if I was seen reading these horrid dot things as I described them at the time, I didn’t take to Braille at first and the school, wisely in my view, took a relaxed approach to my learning it and when the pressure was off, I found it for myself. I expect this is some kind of teacher methodology. No matter, it worked a treat.

From memory, I learned to read my first book which was in a series called Wide Range with the story being about dripping jam. My imagination, which has always been vivid, was set ablaze and I developed my own sense of what the sounds, smells and tastes around me might be like if I were really there.

I use Braille for everything. Learning at school and taking and passing a handful of exams; Writing to my friends and sweethearts when on Holidays where we’d Braille letters to each other, role them up with a couple of elastic bands at each end and post them under Articles for the Blind for free! Then in further education where I’d technical manuals on the theories of pianos and piano tuning and in my current role where I am literally surrounded by Braille.

I’ve always been truly thankful for my dedicated Braille teachers for persevering with me including my most recent who was instrumental in enabling me to attain my Braille Diploma. So, not for the first time, I take the opportunity again to salute you all now!

Professional Dot Maker…Its Personal!

In 1996 one of my work colleagues and I established All Formats. It is a not for profit company, owned by Queen Alexandra Charity with roots tracing back through Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind, which itself was established in 1848 with the opening of a school for blind and partially sighted children and the continuous teaching of Braille to the present day.

With humble beginnings with a very old Braille embosser which is now apparently a museum piece, All Formats has grown substantially and has been producing Braille, large print, audio and accessible digital information for nearly 30 years. Our clients include major banks, commercial printers, insurance companies, utilities, charities and sector related organisations who rely on our quality and timely services to effectively and efficiently communicate with their vision impaired customers.

Braille, Braille, Everywhere. But Not as Much as We’d Like!

While not being ubiquitous in everyday life, Braille can certainly be found in more places than you’d think, including:  food packaging, thank you Co-op; Medicine, thank you pharma industry and some cosmetic products, thank you Loccitane. Additionally: Restaurants, hotels, Lift buttons, signage, bleach bottles and Toilet cubicles on trains all play host to the code which has quite literally set us free.

Reasons to Be Cheerful

There has been a wide spread and damaging belief in the UK at least that nobody reads Braille any more. There are factors which have contributed to this view, However, I firmly believe the tide is turning and Braille has been regaining popularity with a particular resurgence this year as we celebrate #Braille200.

I’d be writing for many more words than you’d be likely to read if I highlighted all that has been happening in a single Blog post. We’ll be publishing more Braille related content throughout 2025.

So: Why were we in Worcester on World Braille Day 2025?

All Formats was delighted to be at the first world Braille conference hosted by New College Worcester, Secondary College for children who are blind or visually impaired and  organised by The Braillists Foundation, a grass-roots community with an elegant mission…More Braille!

We were proud to be among a handful of a number of sector related companies and organisations who sponsored the event. Additionally, Queen Alexandra Charity was represented with others in the heritage trail where delegates were able to get hands on with old Braille related equipment such as: a short hand machine; Stainsby Braille Writer; Various Perkins Braillers and a selection of Braille writing frames.

The Braille Bar, was a dedicated space to connect with braille experts face-to-face; Exhibitors displayed the latest Braille technology innovations; We were treated to perspectives from keynote speaker, Eleanor Stollery, a remarkable 13-year-old advocate for braille literacy and were able to take part in A breakout session cleverly entitled – A Touching Experience, exploring practical, tangible ways to hone in on sense of touch. The day was designed with plenty of time to spend in the company of Braille passionados which left us buzzing for days and a renewed sense of excitement for Braille and its future.

Braille Proliferation in The Nation

The battle for Braille was hard won. From its birth where our hero Louis faced uphill struggles to have his work recognised, even in the school for the blind in Paris at which he attended, to the current day in which Braille, along with other accessible means of communication are still lagging far behind mainstream media channels in their availability. It doesn’t need to be this way and there are many solid reasons for joining the revolution and ensuring your communication is accessible to blind and partially sighted people and people with other reading disabilities. Here are just a few from the websites, We Are Purple UK and Purple Tuesday:

• Businesses in the UK lose approximately £2 billion monthly because they ignore the needs of disabled people.

By Sector:

• High Street Shops – £267 million
• Restaurants/Pubs/Clubs – £163 million
• Supermarkets – £501 million
• Energy Companies – £44 million
• Phone/Internet Providers – £49 million
• Transport Providers – £42 million
• Banks or Building Societies – £935 million

Businesses which embrace accessibility and Are Inclusive by Design Reap advantages on key levels, benefiting all customers including people with disabilities.

• Accessible design often results in clearer and more intuitive user interfaces.
• By considering the needs of people with disabilities, products and services can reach a broader audience, including those who may not associate themselves with having an access requirement but, will feel permitted to ask for what they need if they witness your inclusive approach to those who do.
• The UK has regulations under the Equality Act 2010, requiring access to goods and services which means that making your offer accessible is not only ethical but, legally prudent.

I’m Interested in discovering more about making my products and services more inclusive and accessible. What should I do next?

I’m truly honoured to have spent the majority of my professional life, working alongside a dedicated and passionate team, producing accessible information with Braille at the heart of what we do. I know Braille has and continues to be a communication lifeline for me and the many thousands of Braille consumers for which it is created.

All Formats specialises in creating, transcribing and producing information from standard print to Braille, large print, audio and accessible digital formats on behalf of businesses for their end users who are either blind and partially sighted or have other reading disabilities.

We are well connected to the vision impaired community and related stakeholders meaning we can effectively raise awareness of businesses and organisations who choose to work with us around the accessible services they provide.

At All Formats, the journey starts with a conversation. Talk to us today via our contact details to find out how we can help you connect and communicate with a significant minority community to which we are proud to belong.