Cay Holbrook, a professor at the University of British Columbia, discusses the importance of Braille and her admiration for its creator, Louis Braille.
Louis Braille, who became blind at a young age due to an accident, invented the Braille system out of necessity for himself and his peers while attending the Paris School for the Blind. Holbrook highlights Braille’s ingenuity and the support he likely received from his environment, including his father, who created tactile tools to help him read.
She emphasizes the lasting impact of Louis Braille’s work, noting that the system has remained largely unchanged for over 200 years and has recently undergone a major revision that preserves its original structure. Holbrook also addresses the misconception that Braille is obsolete in the age of audio technology, arguing that Braille is a critical component of literacy for the visually impaired.
She advocates for the continued legacy of Louis Braille’s system, confident that it will endure for future generations.