'Braille and Beyond' library tour stops in Glasgow for Braille’s 200th anniversary

Running from 10am to 3pm in the Moir Dyer Room on the ground floor, with additional activities in the Resource Unit for Vision Impairment (RUVI), the event will feature exhibitions, scheduled talks, and opportunities to explore cutting-edge resources for individuals with sight loss. Refreshments will also be available throughout the day, with a light lunch served at midday.

The event will showcase stalls from leading sight loss organisations, and visitors can explore a variety of information, products, and resources that support visually impaired individuals in their daily lives, as well as learn about the heritage of braille as a powerful tool for literacy and independence.

Scheduled speakers will provide further inspiration and insights into the significance of braille. RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador Dave Williams will present Braille 200, reflecting on the evolution and ongoing relevance of the tactile writing system, while Matthew Clark, an Inclusive Design Consultant with RNIB will share his personal journey with braille, recounting how he learned the system at the very library he is now speaking at. His talk will offer a unique perspective on how braille can empower individuals to access knowledge and communication.

While the event will bring together braille users and enthusiasts, it is also a public invitation to anyone interested in tactile literacy. Hosting the event in one of Glasgow’s most iconic public libraries underscores the aim of the event to raise awareness about braille among the broader community as well.

Whether visitors are seasoned braillists, curious learners, or simply want to better understand the experience of those with vision impairment, this event offers a chance to engage with experts, explore innovative tools, and celebrate the role of braille in making the world more accessible.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the rich heritage and future potential of braille. Join RNIB and Glasgow Libraries on January 28 at the Mitchell Library for a day dedicated to literacy, inclusion, and empowerment.

Dave Williams, RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador who is blind and a lifelong braille user, said:

“Braille is reading designed for our fingers just like print is designed for our eyes. Braille enables my wife to identify her many medications and gave me the confidence to deliver a best man speech at my friend’s wedding. It’s a vital tool for professionals across a variety of fields, such as the politician or lawyer who has to rely on braille to deliver legally binding statements verbatim, or musicians like Stevie Wonder who told me how he uses braille to create and edit his song lyrics. Braille readers are more likely to be employed than blind people who don’t read braille and this highlights a critical need to expand braille education, ensuring that more children with vision impairment and adults with sight loss can benefit from this powerful tool.

“Supporting braille education and resources is a crucial step towards an inclusive society. We’re doing the RNIB Braille and Beyond tour to celebrate the story of braille so far and it will be up to blind and partially sighted people across the UK to write the next chapter.”

Chair of Glasgow Life, Bailie Annette Christie, said:

“We are proud to work with RNIB to host this event at the Mitchell Library, celebrating 200 years of braille and its profound impact on literacy and inclusion.

“Glasgow Libraries are dedicated to providing resources and spaces that everyone can use. This event is a great reminder of why accessibility matters and why it’s so important to make knowledge and opportunities open to all. We’re delighted to help highlight the power of braille and hope it inspires more people to see its value as a tool for independence and communication.”

All media enquiries including interview requests to 0207 391 2223 or [email protected]. For urgent enquiries out-of-hours, please call 07968 482812.

For more information about the Braille and Beyond tour contact RNIB's Library Liaison Officer, Lara Marshall on [email protected].

For more information about the braille courses and resources RNIB offers, please visit our learning braille page.

To find out about more events taking place at the Mitchell Library, visit the events page.

The Braille and Beyond events are made possible thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, which supports RNIB through funds awarded by Postcode Care Trust.

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.

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, RNIB and its partners will highlight braille’s versatility for representing written language and technical subjects, enabling blind and partially sighted people to learn, work and play.

Despite its proven benefits, misconceptions about braille persist. Braille 200 affords us an opportunity to dispel some of those myths. Braille remains crucial in a world increasingly reliant on digital information. It complements audio technology and ensures independent and efficient access to detailed and personal information such as recipes, medication packaging and greetings cards. You do not have to be blind from birth nor super intelligent, braille can be empowering at any age.