Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille

Content Warning: The source material uses an outdated, offensive term for people with intellectual disabilities, which is replicated in this guide only through a direct quote.

“Isolated from much of human knowledge, unable to communicate by the written word, they could never share fully in life.”

Braille recognizes that the absence of an accessible system for reading and writing exclude people who are blind from much of human knowledge and communication. An important theme in Freedman’s text is that Learning and Education is a Fundamental Human Right. Braille certainly believes this, and it is this belief which motivates him to tirelessly experiment with combinations of dots and dashes to create his alphabet for the blind.

“His early walks were hesitant, stumbling affairs, but Louis persisted.”

Braille’s determination and perseverance, even in the face of significant setbacks, is a hallmark character trait. This perseverance enables Braille to adapt to life being newly blind, and inspires Braille to not rest until he has developed an accessible system for reading and writing.

“[…] it was unheard of for a blind child to attend a village school.”

Unfortunately, in 19th-century France, institutions for education and work are not inclusive and accessible. Braille dedicates his life to correcting this.