January is Braille Literacy Month, a time to honor braille code inventor Louis Braille and celebrate the importance of literacy for students who are blind or have low vision (BLV). It’s also a great opportunity to highlight ways braille supports the expanded core curriculum (ECC), a set of skill areas needed by students who are BLV to build independence at school, at home, and in the community.
Braille supports these skills by giving students direct access to reading, writing, and information. Here are simple activities families and teachers can enjoy throughout January:
Compensatory Skills: Braille Exploration
Try braille alphabet cards, tactile books, or a braille writer. Students can invite classmates to learn a few braille letters to promote inclusion.
Assistive Technology: Tech and Braille
Explore braille displays, screen readers, or apps that support accessible reading.
Independent Living Skills: Braille Labeling
Students can label items at home or in the classroom (snacks, folders, toys) to practice functional braille and boost independence.
Orientation and Mobility: Braille Scavenger Hunt
Hide braille clues around a room or hallway to combine braille reading with orientation and mobility practice.
Recreation and Leisure: Braille Games and Crafts
Make a name in braille, play braille Bingo, or try tactile art activities.
Braille Literacy Month helps students build pride in their reading medium and highlights the many ECC skills that support independence. By participating in hands-on activities, families and educators can continue Louis Braille’s legacy of access and lifelong learning.