Innovative educational paths: How Braille drives inclusion!

Innovative educational paths: How Braille drives inclusion!

Today, August 5, 2025, the important role of Braille for blind and visually impaired people was highlighted. Around 200 years ago, Louis Braille invented a writing system that made reading by touch possible. This system is based on a six-dot cell and offers 64 combinations for letters, numbers and characters. Braille, who presented his invention at the age of 15, revolutionized participation for blind people worldwide. PH Heidelberg reports, Braille was initially hampered by raised black letters, but in 1879 it received official recognition in Germany.

Professor Dr. Markus Lang emphasizes the importance of Braille. He explains that it has not only made access to information easier, but has also significantly improved the opportunities for blind people to participate in society. According to a study conducted from 2015 to 2018, Braille remains essential for blind and severely visually impaired people. Many Braille readers combine writing with speech output to improve their reading skills.

Digital accessibility as the next challenge

Digital accessibility plays a crucial role in the future of braille. Loud Change Magazine Digital accessibility enables the conversion of digital works into Braille or their reading. Websites that follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are more accessible not only for people with disabilities, but for all users.

Important digital accessibility measures include the use of plain language, alternative text for images and subtitles for videos. In addition, the websites must be designed in such a way that they are suitable for screen readers and other assistive technologies. More and more public operators are obliged to ensure barrier-free access, both for websites and mobile applications, according to EU Directive 2016/2102.

Innovations and awards

In order to keep Braille visible in future generations, Markus Lang and his team are working on new learning materials. The “Alex and Lilani” series of magazines was awarded a silver prize at the “New York Product Design Award” in 2023. Lang emphasizes the desire to promote inclusive learning and to recruit international colleagues to translate the materials. Technology has also changed the way information is conveyed through Braille displays and magnification software, allowing blind people to continue to have access to written information. BFIT Federation explains, that Braille has always been the only access to written information for the non-sighted.

In conclusion, the history of Braille is not only a history of innovation, but also a history of progress toward greater inclusion. Digital accessibility represents the next step in this process and can help pave the way for future generations.