World Braille Day, celebrated on 4th January, commemorates the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille, a tactile code that empowers blind and visually impaired individuals to access written information. 

Recognized by the United Nations in 2019, the day emphasizes the importance of Braille in promoting accessibility, independence, and dignity for people with visual impairments.

The observance highlights the global need for inclusive education, communication tools, and policies that uphold the rights of visually impaired individuals.

History of the day

In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim January 4 as World Braille Day as a tribute to Louis Braille, the visionary behind the braille system.

Importance of Braille

At least 2.2 billion people around the world have a near or distant vision impairment, as per the estimates by the World Health Organization. Nearly one billion or almost half of these cases are the ones where vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.