Braille Bug

Six tiny raised dots, ingeniously arranged by a fifteen-year-old boy nearly two hundred years ago, have brought literacy to thousands of people with visual disabilities worldwide. Louis Braille, the inventor of the braille code, was born on January 4, 1809, so January is celebrated as Braille Literacy Month. The Braille Bug web site for children was launched in January 2002 to commemorate the achievements of this remarkable young inventor.

The information, activities, and games found on the Braille Bug web site are designed to teach children in grades 3 through 6 about braille. As they explore the site, children will be able to:

• develop an appreciation for the efficiency and versatility of braille;

• learn why and how Louis Braille invented the literary braille code;

• understand the importance of braille for another famous blind person, Helen Keller;

• learn to recognize braille letters and numbers;

• describe different ways to read and write braille, including the use of technology;

• use suggested resources to learn more about braille, blindness, and related topics.​