A Livingston man who has been visually impaired since birth says braille is still as vital as ever.
Braille, the system of raised dots that has enabled blind people to read and write, is still important to those with sight loss, despite the advances of new technology.
Bilal Iqbal (27) from Livingston, uses braille for his work with the Scottish Braille press in Edinburgh.
He explained: “I proof-read documents and mark up any errors I detect in my
job.
“I find braille useful as this is the only way I can read books or magazines, because when I come across a word or phrase that is tricky I have it in front of me to make out how it is spelled.
“Without this tool it wouldn’t be possible for me to physically read or write, and this would mean I would be more reliant on other people to read things for me.
“I also use braille in my spare time to read the books I enjoy.
“I find it more convenient and easier than other forms of communication, again because it means that if I’m given lots of information about something I have it in front of me to read.
“The advantage is I can refer back to anything I might forget.
“I hope braille will continue to be used as this is the only way people who are registered blind can read and it gives people the chance to continue to use the braille skills they have learned.”
Today (Wednesday) marked the anniversary of the birth of its inventor Louis Braille – the Frenchman who himself became blind at the age of four.
The braille system is based on six raised dots, arranged in two columns of three.
“Variations of the six dots represent the letters of the alphabet, punctuation and groups of letters.
James Adams, director of the national charity RNIB Scotland, said: “The invention of braille is often compared to the invention of the printing press for sighted people.
“For thousands across the world, braille means independence, knowledge and freedom.
“Braille also lets you read out loud – a bedtime story to children, a presentation at work, sing in a choir from braille music sheets, or play games such as Monopoly, Scrabble and cards where there are braille versions available.”
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