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Braille Bicentennial

CNIB and Braille200 join global organizations in celebrating Louis Braille’s 200th birthday

Toronto (January 6, 2009) – In 2009, CNIB and Braille200 will join organizations around the world in celebrating the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth. Braille, born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France, invented the raised dot code that bears his name. In so doing, he made it possible for millions of people living with vision loss around the world to read and write alongside their sighted counterparts.

Canadian festivities will begin with a birthday bash in Braille’s honour, hosted by CNIB in Toronto on January 16. The event will kick off a year of celebrations that will include braille exhibits at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa and La Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal, educational and awareness programs such as library reading series and read-a-thons, and various braille competitions including a special international essay competition around the theme “Technology as a Bridge to Braille Literacy.”

“Being able to read and write enables all individuals to communicate in today’s world at a higher level,” says Euclid Herie, Chair of Braille200 and President of the World Braille Foundation. “For those with vision loss, braille equals literacy. Braille can open the door of opportunity on many levels from finding meaningful employment to living full, productive and culturally-rich lives. For this reason, the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth is a momentous occasion which we are proud to acknowledge and celebrate in Canada.”

The January 16 kick-off celebration will also feature the launch of two major Canadian contributions to the Braille bicentennial. Award-winning singer-songwriter Terry Kelly will give a debut performance of “Merci Louis,” a song he has written specially for the occasion. Kelly, best known for his Remembrance Day ballad “A Pittance of Time,” is himself blind and serves as Chair of the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation.

Celebrating Braille: A Canadian Approach, the first Canadian Braille textbook produced in almost 50 years, will also be unveiled on January 16. Written by Myra Rodriques, Florence Carter and Rosie Zampese, the textbook guides new readers through a step-by-step approach to learning braille, using Canadian content and up-to-date vocabulary from “Iqualuit” to “iPod.”

“Braille’s longevity is a testament to its versatility and success in offering those of us who cannot see a gateway to higher learning and achievement,” says Jim Sanders, President & CEO, CNIB. “In this digital age, braille is more relevant than ever before, but we are still far from achieving true equality when it comes to the availability of reading materials in braille. That’s why CNIB is committed to playing a leadership role in promoting braille literacy, teaching, learning and access.”

Further information on the Braille200 anniversary celebrations planned across Canada can be found by visiting www.cnib.ca or www.braille200.ca.