1. American Age of Reform Ysmael Peguero/ Hector Lugo American Studies

2.  People, for a long time, believed that the blind could not find a way to read.  Blind people were also unable to vote, which is an important right for Americans  Fortunately, a light would soon shine in the 1820’s.

3.  Born January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France  Became blind at age 3 - Accidentally infected both eyes with an awl (sharp tool for making holes)  Expanded on Charles Barbier’s work on sonography  Charles had invented a 12 raised dot language to interchange secret information between soldiers.

4.  Braille was elected to become a professor at the National Institute of Blind Youth in 1826  Today’s Braille system was finally completed in 1834  Braille made it possible for blind people to vote. Biography…

5.  Louis attended school with sighted children for approximately two years  Attended the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (National Institute of Blind Youth) in 1819  Learned to play the piano and organ

6.  Braille soon experimented with forms of the modern-day braille  Through usage of the braille system, blind individuals learned write by punching dots into paper with a pointed instrument that was lined up with a metal guide.  Published the first braille book in 1829

8.  Louis was forced to resign from his teaching position in 1835 after falling ill from TB.  A musician student of Louis accredited Louis in a concert, thus creating world-wide interest.  Although previously completed, the system was accepted in 1854 (2 years after Braille’s death)  The system was later introduced at the Missouri School for the Blind in 1860

10.  As reported in 2009: 90 % of children who are not taught to read are blind  There are not many Braille educators in America.  70% of the unemployment rate among the blind has been directly linked to inadequate Braille education  In 2009 the United States introduced the Bicentennial Silver dollar to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. -One side of the coin features a portrait of Louis Braille. The opposite side shows a child reading a book in Braille with the word “Braille” (abbreviated BRL in Braille code) above him. -The word "Independence" is featured on a bookshelf behind the child. (Visit www.nfb.org to purchase a coin)www.nfb.org

13. The portrait by Vasily Perov portrays a blind man playing a musical instrument. This portrait is appropriate for the study of Louis Braille because Louis Braille was a remarkable man who overcame his disability and made a difference for millions of people. Louis Braille was also a musician as the gentleman in the picture, which reveals the intelligence and perseverance that Louis possessed.

14.  http://www.afb.org/braillebug/louis_braille_ bio.asp http://www.afb.org/braillebug/louis_braille_ bio.asp  http://www.notablebiographies.com/Br- Ca/Braille-Louis.html http://www.notablebiographies.com/Br- Ca/Braille-Louis.html  www.nyise.org/springbrook/blind/barbier2.h tm www.nyise.org/springbrook/blind/barbier2.h tm  http://www.nfb.org/nfb/HAVA_legislation.a sp?SnID=53512754 http://www.nfb.org/nfb/HAVA_legislation.a sp?SnID=53512754  http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp  http://www.abcgallery.com/P/perov/perov1 9.html