It’s National Braille Literacy Month, and despite growing technology, braille is still important. 70% of blind adults are unemployed, but of those who are employed, 90% can read braille.
There are over 60,000 blind children in the U.S., but only 10% of blind students are learning to read with braille.
Literacy for blind students depends upon braille, and it’s proven to help them gain independence and employment as adults.
60% of blind students drop out of school, and not being able to read plays a huge part. Imagine not being able to reread a sentence as you’re learning new words or not being able to understand literature.
Partially sighted children are the ones most likely to be left behind in both print and braille reading.
85% of blind students go to public schools, but many states don’t require them to teach braille, despite how it helps prepare students for the future.
Students who learn braille are more likely to finish high school, go to college, have better self-esteem, and get jobs as adults.