Technology Paired Braille Literacy Optimizes Learning Experience 

Guest blogger: inABLE Computer Instructor Carol Ngondi

Thanks to Braille, thousands of people living with visual impairment are literate. So what is Braille? It is a code by which many languages—such as English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and dozens of others—may be written and read. Loius Braille, then 15 years old, invented this groundbreaking reading and writing system in 1814. Now that’s a lasting impact!

Braille is essential in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion (UN). With the rapid inventions and development of assistive communication technologies, some would argue that Braille has become irrelevant today. Not so. It remains unmatched due to its strengths of literacy that have yet to be replicated by technology. If anything, technology complements Braille, and technological advances have made it more widely available and accessible.

As a result of Braille’s visionary writing system, young learners like Janet Lubasha, a blind student in elementary school, are motivated to create solutions to their learning challenges. Janet uses Braille and technology in her education: “I learned how to read and write through Braille. Thanks to that background, advanced computer assistive technology, such as screen readers, have enabled me to improve my reasoning, grades, and research skills.”

Higgins Manyasi, a 14-year-old blind student in Class 5, agrees. Higgins has been part of the inABLE accessibility technology labs since pre-primary. His commitment and determination have helped him to become a top student with advanced keyboard and typing skills. He is so advanced that his teachers have introduced coding in his class early to help him code his way to a new invention for the blind.

Video Caption: Janet Lubasha studying with other students using both Braille and computer assistive technology in the inABLE Computer-Labs-for-the-Blind in Thika Primary School for the Blind. 

Guest blogger: inABLE Computer Instructor Carol Ngondi