Braille education programmes
Braille education programmes
Author
Introduction
One in four blind people are employed, compared to 19 in 20 for the population as a whole. Braille use is associated with a doubling of employment rates, and can also contribute to greater independence and opportunity for blind and partially sighted people. However, many blindness societies no longer offer Braille courses, and many blind people are isolated from the resources they need to teach themselves.
2021 Award
Edward Rogers (CF 2016) has volunteered and worked in Braille provision since 2008, and is currently a trustee of The Braillists Foundation, a grassroots community group that provides support to the blind community across the UK. During the pandemic, with the help of a Covid-19 Action Fund grant, Edward and the Braillists Foundation developed a pilot programme of live educational events including Braille masterclasses, a Braille for Beginners course and community learning groups such as the Braille Book Club. During this time, the Foundation’s community of subscribers significantly increased, with a growing demand for more resources to be available.
Edward has been awarded one of our Activate grants to develop the Foundation’s Braille education programme to reach more blind communities across the UK. The Braillists Foundation will use this funding to deliver more live educational events and create a permanent set of Braille learning resources, which can be used indefinitely by communities around the UK. These resources will include an expanded Braillecast podcast, self-paced audio tutorials, transcribed Braille versions of all masterclasses, and a ‘knowledge base’ on their website. All of this activity will be developed and delivered by blind members of the community, who will be paid a fair commission for their work.
Edward’s Fellowship to India explored how to make blind literacy affordable worldwide.
2021 Award
Edward Rogers (CF 2016) has volunteered and worked in Braille provision since 2008, and is currently a trustee of The Braillists Foundation, a grassroots community group that provides support to the blind community across the UK. During the pandemic, with the help of a Covid-19 Action Fund grant, Edward and the Braillists Foundation developed a pilot programme of live educational events including Braille masterclasses, a Braille for Beginners course and community learning groups such as the Braille Book Club. During this time, the Foundation’s community of subscribers significantly increased, with a growing demand for more resources to be available.
Edward has been awarded one of our Activate grants to develop the Foundation’s Braille education programme to reach more blind communities across the UK. The Braillists Foundation will use this funding to deliver more live educational events and create a permanent set of Braille learning resources, which can be used indefinitely by communities around the UK. These resources will include an expanded Braillecast podcast, self-paced audio tutorials, transcribed Braille versions of all masterclasses, and a ‘knowledge base’ on their website. All of this activity will be developed and delivered by blind members of the community, who will be paid a fair commission for their work.
Edward’s Fellowship to India explored how to make blind literacy affordable worldwide.