Cairo: Jasour – News Desk
In celebration of World Braille Day, which coincides with the anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth on January 4, 1809, Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, received a report from the Central Administration for Disability Affairs highlighting the key achievements for visually impaired special needs individuals.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity has achieved tangible progress in supporting visually impaired special needs individuals and promoting the use of Braille. Educational materials printed in Braille were provided for blind students in schools and universities, contributing to improved educational opportunities and access to knowledge. Financial and technical support was also provided to institutions and associations serving blind individuals, including those focused on teaching Braille and offering necessary training.
The ministry has worked on developing and providing assistive technology that facilitates the use of Braille for the blind, such as electronic devices that read and translate texts into Braille and printers. Additionally, training programs and workshops were organized to teach Braille to the blind and their families, enhancing their skills and independence. Awareness campaigns were launched to highlight the importance of integrating visually impaired special needs individuals into society and the role of Braille in achieving this.
Other services provided by the Ministry of Social Solidarity for the blind include coordinating with electronic platforms concerned with their employment and economic empowerment, providing suitable housing, financial support (Karama), providing speaking laptops, white canes, financial and academic scholarships for blind students in Egyptian public universities, and approximately 18 Braille printers in public universities to assist students. Moreover, early detection campaigns for visual impairment and facilitating access to a number of railway and metro stations to ease the movement of the blind are also offered.
Through these initiatives, the Ministry of Social Solidarity aims to improve the quality of life for visually impaired special needs individuals and ensure their rights to education, employment, and community participation.
It is noteworthy that Braille is a vital tool for visually impaired special needs individuals, enabling them to read and write effectively, thus enhancing their integration into society and access to knowledge and education.
Braille is a unique system based on raised dots that can be felt with fingers, allowing blind and visually impaired individuals to read printed texts in a special way. Each Braille cell consists of six dots, which can represent letters, numbers, and symbols.
As part of the celebrations of this day, various events and activities are organized worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of Braille and its role in promoting the rights of visually impaired special needs individuals. These efforts also highlight the ongoing efforts to develop new technologies that improve the quality of life for the blind and enable their full participation in society.
This day serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting and promoting inclusive education that considers the needs of all individuals, regardless of their visual abilities. Experts encourage the provision of more resources and educational materials printed in Braille to ensure that as many individuals as possible benefit from this effective method.
