World Braille Day – January 4

We celebrate World Braille Day every year on January 4th because it’s Louis Braille’s birthday. He’s the inventor of braille! Louis was born in 1809 in France and became blind after a childhood accident. But, he quickly mastered his new way of living. When Louis was only 15 years old, he created a reading and writing system based on Charles Barbier’s night writing system. We know Louis’ system today as braille. Adjusted over time, braille is now easier to read and used all over the world!

World Braille Day is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. Today’s reality is that many establishments such as restaurants, banks, and hospitals don’t offer braille versions of their print materials like menus, statements, and bills. Because of this, people with blindness or visual impairments often don’t have the freedom to choose a meal on their own or keep their finances private.

This day spreads awareness about braille and other accessible forms of communication. Everyone deserves (and is legally entitled to) the same accommodations and service, regardless of ability. Let’s remember that and do our part to make our workplaces more accessible for everyone.

What Happened On This Day

• 2010- Burj Khalifa is opened

  Burj Khalifa in Dubai is currently the world’s tallest building, at 829.8 m (2,722 ft).

• 1958 – Sputnik 1 falls to Earth from orbit

  The Soviet Union was the first nation to send an artificial Earth satellite into space.

• 1948- Burma gains independence from the United Kingdom

  Burma (Myanmar) came under British rule on January 1, 1886.

• 1896- Utah becomes the 45th state of the U.S.A.

  One condition for statehood was that a ban on polygamy had to be written into the state constitution.

Births On This Day, January 4

• • 1986- James Milner

    English footballer

  • 1965- Guy Forget

    French tennis player

  • 1942- John McLaughlin

    English guitarist, songwriter

  • 1832– George Tryon

    English Admiral

  • 1809- Louis Braille

    French educator, invented Braille

Deaths On This Day, January 4

• 2011- Gerry Rafferty

  Scottish singer-songwriter

• 1965- T. S. Eliot

  American/English publisher, playwright, critic, Nobel Prize laureate

• 1961- Erwin Schrödinger

  Austrian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate

• 1960- Albert Camus

  French author, journalist, philosopher, Nobel Prize laureate