Promoting Braille:
A Campaign to Increase Literacy for Blind Youth

Purpose:  To promote Braille literacy for blind youth by enacting the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Act.

Background:  Louis Braille, born in Coupvray, France, in 1809, is recognized worldwide for creating the system of raised dots--"Braille"--used by the blind to read and write.  Braille brings literacy, independence, and productivity to blind people.  By believing in the capacity of the blind to learn, Louis Braille demonstrated an understanding of blindness that was extraordinarily enlightened and positive for the times in which he lived.

Blind people today would be far less likely to achieve goals of independence and productive living without the positive contributions Louis Braille made throughout his life.  His intelligence and recognition of the need of blind people for a means of literacy continue to inspire us all as we approach the 200th anniversary of his birth.  Today blind people are teachers; doctors; lawyers; scientists; mathematicians; and much, much more because of Braille.  Blind people working in these professions are living proof that literacy is a pathway to success.

Effective use of Braille is one of the essential skills needed by the blind to achieve success.  It ranks with independent mobility; knowledge and use of adaptive technology; and a core belief that equality, opportunity, and security are truly possible for all blind people.  This philosophy has steadily evolved during more than six decades of work by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). 

Today blind people strive to live productive lives as first-class citizens.  To do this we are making a sustained effort to improve public understanding of blindness.  However, lack of a solid commitment to teach Braille to blind students is a serious problem in the education of the blind in our nation's schools.  This leads to the shocking and tragic fact that only about ten percent of blind children are being taught to read and write Braille.  By contrast, research demonstrates that more than 90% of employed blind people use Braille.  Therefore increasing the Braille literacy rate is a key factor in helping the blind to become employed and productive.  Issuance of a commemorative coin to recognize Louis Braille will support a nationwide campaign to promote Braille literacy.  

Current Status:  During the first session of the 109th Congress, Representatives Bob Ney and Ben Cardin introduced the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Act as H.R. 2872.  Approximately 250 House members (including Representatives Blunt and Pelosi) have joined as cosponsors as of January 15, 2006.  A similar effort will be launched in the Senate during the second session of the 109th Congress. 

Action Requested:  Please support Braille literacy for blind youth by cosponsoring H.R. 2872 in the House of Representatives or by introducing/cosponsoring a companion bill in the Senate.

To cosponsor H.R. 2872 please contact:

• For Representative Ney:
Jason Spence
Phone:  (202) 225-6265
E-mail:  jason.spence@mail.house.gov. 

• For Representative Cardin:
Priscilla Ross
Phone:  (202) 225-4016
E-mail:  priscilla.ross@mail.house.gov. 

In the Senate: 

• Please contact the National Federation of the Blind if you are willing to help our cause by sponsoring this legislation.

Contact Information:

Jesse Hartle
Governmental Programs Specialist
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2233
Fax:  (410) 685-5653
E-mail: jhartle@nfb.org