Braille

What Is Braille?

Braille is a tactile writing system designed for people who are blind or have severe vision impairments. It uses raised dots arranged in cells to represent letters, numbers, and symbols. Each cell can contain up to six dots, arranged in a 2x3 grid. People read Braille by moving their fingertips across the patterns.

Structure and Syntax

The Braille alphabet is built from combinations of six dots. Each unique arrangement corresponds to a print character or symbol. There are 63 combinations using six-dot cells. An eight-dot variant exists for digital use, allowing more symbols and formatting, often used for computer Braille and refreshable Braille displays.

Uncontracted vs. Contracted Braille

Braille is written in two primary forms.

Grade 1 (Uncontracted)

Each character appears in its full form. It's commonly used in early learning, for proper names, or when exact spelling is required.

Grade 2 (Contracted)

Uses contractions and abbreviations to save space and make reading faster. It's the form most commonly used in daily life once fluency is achieved.

Braille in Assistive Technology

Digital tools like screen readers and Braille displays allow users to interact with computers and mobile devices. These devices translate digital text into Braille in real-time, using either contracted or uncontracted forms depending on user settings and content.

Legal Requirements for Braille Accessibility

Several accessibility laws require or promote the use of Braille: the ADA requires public accommodations to offer accessible communication options including Braille signage and materials, Section 508 requires federal agencies to provide accessible information technologies, AODA mandates Braille access in public services in Ontario, the UK Equality Act 2010 requires auxiliary aids like Braille materials, and the European Accessibility Act requires selected products and services across the EU to be accessible including by providing Braille where appropriate.