what is braille

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are blind, deafblind, or who have low vision. It is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers, and it can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille displays that connect to computers and smartphone devices. Braille is not a language, but rather a code by which many languages can be written and read, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and dozens of others. Braille symbols are formed within units of space known as braille cells, which consist of six raised dots arranged in two parallel rows each having three dots. Early braille education is crucial to literacy, education, and employment among the blind, as it provides access to spelling, punctuation, and other aspects of written language that may be less accessible through audio alone. Braille is used by thousands of people all over the world in their native languages, and provides a means of literacy for all.