Kemi Odusanya, Executive Director of the Eagles Voice International for Disability Rights (EVIDR), has called on all individuals to embrace braille as part of efforts to promote independence for Blind people in Nigeria.
Odusanya made the charge in a press statement issued to commemorate World Braille Day 2024 and stressed that braille will help to enhance independence, resilience and empowerment for the Blind.
The group also rejoiced with members of the Blind specifically to celebrate the reformed system of writing that brings about equal participation in the stead of using pencil/pen and notepad. Blind and partially sighted people can comfortably use braille to communicate.
The statement reads in part that “we urge all individuals with special focus on citadel of learnings to embrace the braille system as a means of independence, resilience, and empowerment for blind and partially sighted persons. As the world embraces digital literacy, braille also gradually transforms into the digital space with technology gradually embracing braille.
“Today, we have technological devices that have braille as an alternate communication for users of braille. Infrastructure, communication gadgets, etc. have tactile dots that enable a blind or partially sighted person to interact freely with the raised dots.
“We do not only mark the world braille day today but advocate the need for braille literacy by and for blind and partially sighted persons.”
The group also charged the media, education institutes, religious houses, recreational centers, policy makers, individuals, and donors “to commit strongly to the regularization and advancement of braille as a national system of writing for and by blind and partially sighted persons in Nigeria. Additionally, we seek the attention of the blind and partially sighted persons not to neglect the value of braille to their independence and productivity.”