On Tuesday, January 28, the Mitchell Library in Glasgow hosted a special event celebrating the importance of braille and tactile literacy, organised by sight loss charity RNIB in partnership with Glasgow Libraries. Open to everyone, the event offered a day of engaging activities, informative talks, and networking opportunities for those who use braille and anyone curious about its transformative impact.
The event featured exhibitions, scheduled talks, and opportunities to explore cutting-edge resources for individuals with sight loss. Refreshments were also be available throughout the day, with a light lunch served at midday.
The event showcased stalls from leading sight loss organisations, and visitors were able to explore a variety of information, products, and resources that support visually impaired individuals in their daily lives, as well as learn about the heritage of braille as a powerful tool for literacy and independence.
Scheduled speakers provided further inspiration and insights into the significance of braille. RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador Dave Williams presented Braille 200, reflecting on the evolution and ongoing relevance of the tactile writing system, while Matthew Clark, an Inclusive Design Consultant with RNIB, shared his personal journey with braille, recounting how he learned the system at the very library he is now speaking at. His talk offered a unique perspective on how braille can empower individuals to access knowledge and communication.
While the event brought together braille users and enthusiasts, it was also a public invitation to anyone interested in tactile literacy. Hosting the event in one of Glasgow’s most iconic public libraries underscored the aim of the event to raise awareness about braille among the broader community as well.
Dave Williams, RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador who is blind and a lifelong braille user, said: “Braille is reading designed for our fingers just like print is designed for our eyes. Braille enables my wife to identify her many medications and gave me the confidence to deliver a best man speech at my friend’s wedding. It’s a vital tool for professionals across a variety of fields, such as the politician or lawyer who has to rely on braille to deliver legally binding statements verbatim, or musicians like Stevie Wonder who told me how he uses braille to create and edit his song lyrics. Braille readers are more likely to be employed than blind people who don’t read braille and this highlights a critical need to expand braille education, ensuring that more children with vision impairment and adults with sight loss can benefit from this powerful tool.
“Supporting braille education and resources is a crucial step towards an inclusive society. We’re doing the RNIB Braille and Beyond tour to celebrate the story of braille so far and it will be up to blind and partially sighted people across the UK to write the next chapter.”
Chair of Glasgow Life, Bailie Annette Christie, said: “We are proud to work with RNIB to host this event at the Mitchell Library, celebrating 200 years of braille and its profound impact on literacy and inclusion.
“Glasgow Libraries are dedicated to providing resources and spaces that everyone can use. This event is a great reminder of why accessibility matters and why it’s so important to make knowledge and opportunities open to all. We’re delighted to help highlight the power of braille and hope it inspires more people to see its value as a tool for independence and communication.”
