Largely neglected in favor of digital solutions, Braille is used less and less by people suffering from visual impairments. On this World Braille Day, associations, which fear a “ loss of skills » of the visually impaired, warn of the disappearance of this two-century-old writing and plead for its inclusion in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage.
Until he was forty, Frédéric saw perfectly. Since 2010, following an infection of unknown origin, a thick veil has permanently obscured his daily life. Blind, he uses digital technology rather than braille to compensate for his visual impairment. “ When I lost my sight, I learned Braille, but it was like going back to school. It’s a new rehabilitation where it’s not necessarily easy to assimilate everything, it’s easier to move towards the use of new technologies », recalls the 52-year-old man.
According to figures published by the Federation of the Blind of France, of the 253 million people in the world with visual impairment, 36 million of whom are blind, only 6 million of them use Braille. Like Frédéric, many visually impaired people abandon this writing and reading system which allows, thanks to the combination of six salient points, to decipher letters by stroking them with the index finger.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 euros to adapt a manual into Braille
Vocalization software, audio books, dictation applications… “Talking” technologies are multiplying and allow people suffering from visual impairments to obtain information and communicate independently, most of the time to the detriment of Braille. “ Orality is seen as an alternative to reading and writing », explains Bruno Gendron, president of the Federation of the Blind and Amblyopic of France.
For good reason, braille remains, despite its two centuries of existence, a writing system that is not easily accessible. “ It is estimated that between 7 and 10% of new literary works appear in formats adapted to Braille. », recalls Pierre Marragou, president of theassociation Support, Promote, Integrate Visually Impaired People (apiDV), which produces and transcribes braille on demand. A rarity which is mainly explained by the excessively expensive cost of producing tactile books. “ For example, transcribing a textbook in which illustrations must be reproduced, such as those for mathematics or earth sciences and life, costs around 1 000 to 2 000 euros “, he emphasizes.
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The transcription of books in Braille writing, into printed works, also results in a multitude of volumes that are bulky and difficult to transport. “ It is much more difficult to circulate than a traditional book. We always take the example of the first volume of Harry Potter: while it is the easiest and shortest of the entire series, it represents around ten volumes in braille », Points out Pierre Marragou. If digital braille, more compact, helps to promote access to literary texts, its cost remains an obstacle. “ Digital Braille displays, which are small terminals that allow you to read Braille on a screen, cost between 6 000 and 10 000 euros depending on the model. The e-reader is expensive! »
Teacher shortage
Thus, many people suffering from blindness are giving up on braille, which is more expensive and cumbersome than vocalization tools. This decline, which constitutes a “ real threat » for Pierre Marragou, provokes criticism from associations supporting blind or visually impaired people. “ This is nonsense: for sighted people, there is no opposition between the use of digital technology and that of writing and reading. », comments Bruno Gendron.
At apiDV, concerns are even turning towards a possible divestment of the French state. “ The risk, as digital technology costs less, is that the public authorities will say to themselves that they no longer need to train new braille teachers. », summarizes Pierre Marragou, who already points out the growing shortage of teachers and the fact that blind students do not benefit from systematic training in Braille. “ There are an insufficient number of professionals compared to needs and, in certain territories, it becomes almost impossible to learn Braille, except with the help of volunteers who are not always well trained. », confirms Bruno Gendron.
Writing inseparable from academic success
On this World Braille Day, associations are sounding the alarm, worrying about the disappearance of this method of writing. The president of the Federation of the Blind and Amblyopic of France denounces a “ vicious circle » which, ultimately, would cause the “ loss of part of the skills of visually impaired people ” and one ” illiteracy “. “ It’s a real subject, that is to say, one wouldn’t imagine a sighted person saying that they are learning less and less to read and write. Well, no one would say that! », exclaims Bruno Gendron.
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For the two member associations of the “Braille is back” collective, this writing system is more than a communication or emancipation tool. It goes hand in hand with academic success. “ It still allows you to have access to spelling, it facilitates learning a foreign language and French as well as speaking in public. », Estimates Pierre Marragou, himself a “braillist”, in other words practicing braille. “ How can we imagine a blind person being trained and having a job if they cannot read Braille? », continues Bruno Gendron.
The conclusions of the Homere study, the first survey in France on the living conditions and needs of visually impaired people, reveal that 35% of blind people who master Braille have a level of study below the baccalaureate, compared to 51% for non-braillists. For diplomas equivalent to bac +3, +4 and +5, braille students are twice as numerous. Finally, 80% of them choose their training based on their personal interests, compared to 58% among non-Braillists.
In order to preserve braille, associations are ardently campaigning for its inclusion in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. If the Federation of the Blind and Amblyopic of France intends to address the issue again during its meeting in January with the Minister Delegate in charge of Disabled People, Fadila Khattabi, the subject has remained unresolved for several years. “ If we abandon braille, we will perhaps save money, but we will probably pay for it in the long term by the fact that we will have blind people who will study less and who will work less. », concludes the president of apiDV.