By Isaac Ato MENSAH
Accra – 4 January, 2019
Louis Braille was born today, January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France. He died 6 January, 1852, aged 43.
Today, Louis Braille remains one of the unique and most important contributors to the advancement of the written word; he invented the Braille system of writing named after him.
Charles Barbier, a former soldier who had invented a system of writing for the military using 12 raised dots on a page had his idea rejected.
Barbier’s system was useful to even illiterate soldiers but was thought too complex.
Barbier’s “Night writing” as he termed it was to help soldiers send messages to each other without speaking; it was his version of night vision goggles.
So Barbier took his idea to the school where Louis Braille was learning.
Louis Braille adapted the 12 raised dots to six, consisting of three raised dots each in two columns.
Today, World Braille Day is being celebrated around the world to emphasise the importance of accessibility to communication for everyone, yes everyone, not just the blind.
Now to some simple questions.
How many of our universities in Ghana have Braille libraries?
Is it on the checklist of the National Accreditation Board and do they enforce it when they go round collecting fees for renewal of accreditation of our young private universities ?
Does Ghana’s Ministry of Education enforce international standards?
How about our health training institutions – are they not the worst culprits when it comes to Braille libraries?
Are the records of the enlightening and erudite debates in our august parliament available in braille? Straight face please!
For now, just get into the vibe of the day, with some Loius Braille quotes from azquotes.com.
‘Live without seeing, but be what you are.’
‘Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power.’
‘Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important to us if we are not to go on being despised or patronised by condescending sighted people. We do not need to be reminded that we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals – communication is the way to bring this about.’
Braille is communication for humanity.
Happy Braille Day.
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