Fact Sheet on Manual Braille Writing Aids and Labelers Braille
is a primary medium of reading and writing for people who are
blind or have low vision. Although blind or visually impaired
individuals are able to access print materials by using audio
books or listening to a personal reader and can write by
dictating to someone, many find that they can access information
more quickly and perform tasks that involve reading or writing
more efficiently using braille. In the workplace and at school,
knowing braille makes it possible for blind people to read and
take notes independently, and it increases the amount of written
material that is accessible to them. Braille can be used to
write notes for a business presentation or speech. Teachers who
are blind can use braille for lecture notes. Studies have found
that the employment rate for blind people who know braille is
higher than for those who don't (Ryles, 1996). In daily life,
there are many situations in which braille offers the best
choice for independent acti