Celebrating World Braille Day

Today is the World Braille Day, which occurs every 4 January.

 

 

Braille is an important communication aid for blind and visually impaired people.

 

Egypt used Braille writing system in different fields. In 2017, the Ministry of Interior has issued a directory of police services in the Braille writing system for visually impaired people.

 

 

The manual was distributed to all service providers to ensure it reaches a larger number of people in need for such service.

 

In 2018, Ministry of Culture inaugurated three arts and music halls for the visually impaired at Dar El Kotob (House of Books).

 

 

These halls contain 21,000 books, including audio books and Braille books for the visually impaired.

 

 

The Gayer-Anderson Museum completed the preparation of explanatory cards using Braille tactile system in to be used in its exhibition halls.

 

This comes within the framework of the Ministry of Antiquities’ plan to develop museums and archaeological sites to serve the visually impaired. Head of the Museums Sector Elham Salah stated that the use of such cards promotes communication and sustainable development.

 

 

 

The cards were officially used in museum halls starting June 18, 2019 under the supervision of the educational department for those with special needs in the museum.

 

 

 

In 2019, visually impaired Egyptians were able to cast their vote unassisted for the first time after ballot papers were printed using Braille method as the first day of the referendum on the constitutional amendments.

 

 

 

 

Braille ballot allows blind people and those who have low vision to read documents through touching raised dots representing the letters of alphabet.

 

 

 

In July 2023, Amiriya Press Egypt’s most prominent printing press, produced its first wave of photocopy paper, branded Tahya Misr.

 

 

Also Amiriya Press has been provided with Braille printing machines for the visually-impaired with a tape feed (Roll Feed) to print large quantities.