This is an online event streamed on the British Library platform. Bookers will be sent a viewing link shortly before the event and will be able to watch at any time for 48 hours after the start time.

Leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the British Library invite you to celebrate the bicentenary of the invention of braille, the system of raised dots that allows blind and partially sighted people to read with their fingers.

Our distinguished panel will delve into the rich history of braille and debate its promising future. Panellists include Lord David Blunkett and Betsy Griffin. The conversation will be hosted by Dave Williams, RNIB Inclusive Design Ambassador and chair of the Braillists Foundation.

Louis Braille was in his teens in the mid-1820s when he began developing the six-dot tactile reading system that enables millions of blind and partially sighted people around the world to access the power of literacy. From September 2024, RNIB is leading a year of celebrations across the UK to recognise the bicentenary of the braille code; braille continues to unlock access to countless opportunities in education, employment and independent living.

We are honoured to host a distinguished panel of special guests, who will celebrate the past, present and future of braille.

More panellists to be announced.

Panellist Biographies:

Lord David Blunkett needs little introduction. Blind since birth, the Labour Party politician served as the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough from 1987 to 2015 and is now a member of the House of Lords. He served as Education and Employment Secretary, Home Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary in Tony Blair's Cabinet following Labour's victory in the 1997 general election. In 2001 he was promoted to Home Secretary, a position he held until 2004. He is Vice President of RNIB. Lord Blunkett will speak about the huge influence braille has had on his political and personal life and work.

Eleven-year-old Betsy Griffin lost her eyesight after being treated for a brain tumour. As she recovered from surgery, she began to discover braille was one of the tools she could use to continue her huge love of reading and writing. Her first book, Out of The Woods, was published in 2022 and in it, Betsy created a cast of friendly animal characters who explain how to live positively in the face of adversity. It was partly based on her popular YouTube videos which explore Betsy’s unique tips for living well.

For 25 years, Dave Williams has been championing inclusive design principles to ensure equal access and opportunities for blind and partially sighted people. His work has driven change, enhancing accessibility across a wide range of industries, including technology, product design, the built environment and public services. Blind since birth, Dave is a huge advocate for the use of braille to enable blind and partially sighted people to gain access to literacy, education and employment. He also uses it extensively in everyday life having proposed to his wife on a braille scrabble board. Dave hosts RNIB Tech Talk, the UK’s leading radio show and podcast for blind and partially sighted technology users, which airs on RNIB’s Connect Radio. He is Chair of the Braillists Foundation, a community passionate about promoting independence and opportunity through braille literacy and sits on the European Blind Union Braille Working Group. He is a UK delegate to the International Council on English Braille and has recently joined the board of the DAISY Consortium.

The RNIB would like to thank event sponsors Dot and Humanware and People’s Postcode Lottery, which support RNIB through funds awarded by Postcode Care Trust.

 

 

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