LOUIS BRAILLEAmerican Age of Reform

Ysmael Peguero/ Hector LugoAmerican Studies

The Blind Beginning

People, for a long time, believed that the blind could not find a way to read.

Blind people were also unable to vote, which is an important right for Americans

Fortunately, a light would soon shine in the 1820’s.

Louis Braille Biography

Born January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France

Became blind at age 3 - Accidentally infected both eyes with

an awl (sharp tool for making holes)

Expanded on Charles Barbier’s work on sonography

Charles had invented a 12 raised dot

language to interchange secret information between soldiers.

Braille was elected to become a professor at the National Institute of Blind Youth in 1826

Today’s Braille system was finally completed in 1834

Braille made it possible for blind people to vote.

Biography…

Louis Braille’s Education

Louis attended school with sighted children for approximately two years

Attended the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (National Institute of Blind Youth) in 1819

Learned to play the piano and organ

The Big Bang of Braille:How it all started

Braille soon experimented with forms of the modern-day braille

Through usage of the braille system, blind individuals learned write by punching dots into paper with a pointed instrument that was lined up with a metal guide.

Published the first braille book in 1829

Louis Braille’s 1829 Publishment

America’s Introduction to the Braille System

Louis was forced to resign from his teaching position in 1835 after falling ill from TB.

A musician student of Louis accredited Louis in a concert, thus creating world-wide interest.

Although previously completed, the system was accepted in 1854 (2 years after Braille’s death)

The system was later introduced at the Missouri School for the Blind in 1860

Today’s Braille System

Braille Statistics As reported in 2009: 90 % of children who are

not taught to read are blind There are not many Braille educators in

America. 70% of the unemployment rate among the blind

has been directly linked to inadequate Braille education

In 2009 the United States introduced the Bicentennial Silver dollar to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. 

-One side of the coin features a portrait of Louis Braille. The opposite side shows a child reading a book in Braille with the word “Braille” (abbreviated BRL in Braille code) above him.

-The word "Independence" is featured on a bookshelf behind the child. (Visit www.nfb.org to purchase a coin)

The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar 

BLIND MUSICIAN-Vasily Perov

BLIND MUSICIAN-Vasily Perov

The portrait by Vasily Perov portrays a blind

man playing a musical instrument. This portrait

is appropriate for the study of Louis Braille

because Louis Braille was a remarkable man

who overcame his disability and made a

difference for millions of people. Louis Braille

was also a musician as the gentleman in the

picture, which reveals the intelligence and

perseverance that Louis possessed .

Cited Sources

http://www.afb.org/braillebug/louis_braille_bio.asp

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Br-Ca/Braille-Louis.html

www.nyise.org/springbrook/blind/barbier2.htm

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/HAVA_legislation.asp?SnID=53512754

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp http://www.abcgallery.com/P/perov/

perov19.html