Louis Braille – While Just A Teen, He Became a Pioneer for the Blind!
Back in the nineteenth century, when Louis Braille was just three years old, an accident left him blind. As he grew, Louis wanted to read and write, but he felt frustrated with the few slow, difficult methods available at the time for blind people. So Louis came up with an idea, and as a teenager, he invented a special “language code” that would help make it much easier for blind people to read and write.
Louis’ code revolutionized the world of blind people, and in his honor it eventually became known as Braille. Today, Braille has made it possible for millions of blind people be able to read and write in a manageable way, helping them to be able to live their lives to the fullest!
This video tells the story of Louis and his amazing invention.
Additional Resources:
- Here is a biography that tells Louis’ amazing story!
- Here is a video that teaches you the basics of Braille!
Topics for Discussion:
- What would it be like to be blind? How would your life be different than it is now?
- Do you know anyone who is blind? Ask them if they can read Braille!
Take Action:
- See if you can find places where Braille is used in your community!
- Visit the National Federation of the Blind website to learn more about Braille and how you can help support its use.
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
