Dr. Almallah's Corner

Serving New Jersey, Monmouth County, & Ocean County

"Is Braille Obsolete?"

Braille, which utilizes raised dots to signify letters of the alphabet, enables blind individuals to read and write. While more than half of this nation’s blind children were learning Braille at the height of its popularity in the 1950s, the National Federation of the Blind reports that only 10 percent of blind children are learning Braille today. Instead, they are being encouraged to rely on audio texts, voice-recognition software, and other technologies. However, as a result of using technology as a substitute for Braille, illiteracy is increasing among the blind. By contrast, the National Federation of the Blind cites numerous studies that show that people who know Braille are more likely to earn advanced degrees, find good jobs, and live independently.