09/01/2026
World Braille Day 2026: More Braille, More Empowerment
By miss Jessica Jacobie
Disability Inclusion & Human Rights Consultant
“Braille is not just a way to read and write—it is how I access knowledge, build independence, and participate fully in society.”
Introduction
Every 4 January, the world celebrates World Braille Day, honoring Louis Braille and the transformative power of Braille literacy. For me, Braille is deeply personal. It has shaped my journey as a learner, an educator of persons who are blind and visually impaired, and a disability inclusion and human rights consultant. Braille opens doors to education, employment, and full participation in society.
World Braille Day also aligns with the United Nations’ commitment to promoting literacy, accessibility, and the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide, reinforcing the global call to action for inclusion and equality.
This year, the Global Braille Literacy Campaign – “More Braille: More Empowerment”, led by the World Blind Union (WBU) and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), reminds us:
“Braille literacy is the gateway to independence, education, and employment.”
Braille is a Human Right
Braille literacy is a human right under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on inclusive education, decent work, reducing inequalities, and access to information.
Globally, fewer than 10% of published works are available in accessible formats, leaving millions of persons who are blind without the materials they need. In the Caribbean, access is limited: only a small percentage of students who are blind have consistent access to Braille textbooks, and trained Braille teachers are scarce.
“I remember the first time I held a Braille textbook—it was not just letters on a page; it was a pathway to independence, learning, and self-confidence.”
Students with access to Unified English Braille (UEB) materials and trained teachers consistently show improvements in literacy, confidence, and academic outcomes. Barriers remain, particularly for girls, rural communities, and students from low-income families. Practical, context-sensitive interventions are needed to expand access across the region.
Action Through Policy and Collaboration
To advance Braille literacy in the Caribbean, stakeholders should focus on practical, achievable steps:
Short-term Actions:
- Train teachers in Unified English Braille (UEB).
- Share existing Braille resources within countries and, where countries have ratified and implemented the Marrakesh Treaty, engage in cross-border sharing using Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) resources through WIPO.
- Encourage countries with capacity and resources that have already produced books in accessible formats to share with countries lacking resources or production capacity, reducing duplication.
- Leverage ABC/WIPO to produce low-cost accessible materials, including Braille, large print, and digital formats, in compliance with copyright provisions.
Long-term Actions:
- Fully adopt UEB across curricula in Caribbean schools.
- Expand sustainable funding for Braille programs and digital technology.
- Integrate refreshable Braille displays, open-source digital libraries, and mobile-accessible materials to complement printed Braille.
Governments Should:
- Embed Braille literacy into national inclusive education policies and curricula, prioritizing core subjects.
- Ratify and implement the Marrakesh Treaty, updating copyright laws as needed to enable legal access to cross-border accessible materials.
Regional Collaboration:
- Bodies such as CARICOM and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) should coordinate initiatives, facilitate teacher training workshops, and support sharing of UEB materials only between countries that have both ratified and implemented the Marrakesh Treaty.
- NGOs and community organizations should provide mentorship, literacy support, and advocacy at the local level.
Monitoring and Accountability:
- Track measurable indicators, including enrollment in Braille programs, number of teachers trained in UEB and Braille instruction, and availability of Braille and accessible learning materials.
- Report progress through CRPD reviews and SDG Voluntary National Reviews to ensure accountability and guide investments.
A Call to Action
World Braille Day 2026 is both a celebration and a call to action:
“Braille is not optional, and inclusion is not optional. More Braille means more empowerment, opportunity, independence, and dignity for persons who are blind. The time to act is now.”
In the Caribbean, coordinated regional action, teacher training, gradual adoption of UEB, investment in accessible resources, and legally compliant use of technology and cross-border sharing—including sharing accessible books from resourceful countries to those with limited capacity—can dramatically improve Braille literacy and educational outcomes for students who are blind or visually impaired.
“As the Global Braille Literacy Campaign emphasizes, more Braille means more empowerment—and in the Caribbean, we have the opportunity to make this a reality.”
Braille matters. Access matters. Rights matter.
