Braille anniversary: 200 years that change life!

Braille anniversary: 200 years that change life!

Hägelingasse 4–6, 1140 Wien, Österreich - On May 27, 2025, it was announced that the braille, a fundamental innovation for blind people, will soon celebrate its 200th anniversary. This special anniversary celebration will take place on June 6, 2025 in the Louis Braille Haus in Vienna. The Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland (BSVWNB) blind and visual impairment invites you to this important event in order to honor the achievements of the braille and to emphasize their importance for blind people.

The event begins at 12:00 p.m. and offers a varied program. In addition to sparkling wine and finger food, the ORF editor Lukas Osztovics will moderate through the program. Erich Schmid, the cultural attaché of the BSVWNB, will talk about Louis Braille and the importance of the braille. A highlight will be the handover of a tactile photo from the Canon project "World Unseen" as a permanent loan. In addition, a special exhibition with rare exhibits from the archives of the Federal Blind Institute (BBI) and the BSVWNB are shown, which documents the history and development of the braille.

interactive offers and art

For those interested, there is also a hands -on area in which visitors can get to know the braille themselves. The opening of a donator: interior panel, which was designed as a work of art in honor of the supporters of the BSVWNB, will be a special honor. The artist Dean Maassen will be on site to present his work. These celebrations should not only remind you of the past, but also underline the future relevance of the braille in today's digital world.

The history of the Braille itself goes back to the 19th century when it was developed by Louis Braille, a French blind. Louis Braille lost his eyesight due to an accident at the age of only three years and invented the point system at the age of only 15, which consists of six sublime points and enables blind people to read and write. Before that, blind people were strongly dependent on oral communication, which made access to education very difficult. The braille has developed over time and has now become an important tool for integration of blind people into society.

technological progress

With the progress of the technology, new digital aids such as braille lines and screen readers were also created. These technologies have revolutionized the life of blind people because they facilitate access to information and education. The braille remains the central element, while it is adapted to modern needs. In the digital age, it plays a crucial role in the design of barrier -free technologies and is supported by organizations that work for an inclusive society.

The anniversary celebration on June 6 not only promises a look back at the achievements of the braille, but also an outlook for their further meaning in the life of blind people. Interested parties are asked to register until June 6th, either by email to martin.tree@blindenverband-wnb.at or by phone at 0664 68 39. Further information is also available on the website www.braille.at