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On Saturday, January 4th, Costa Rica celebrated the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille with little fanfare. It was a quiet day of observation that served as a reminder that every little improvement that is made to improve the lives of the visually-impaired is certainly worth every effort.
Louis Braille was a child whose life underwent a major turn when he lost his eyesight in an accident. Biographers and historians have described him as the embodiment of French courage, tenacity and determination. Growing up, Braille longed for reading and writing, two activities that were not available to the blind in his time. He learned, however, that French soldiers had devised a secret messaging system that involved dots. Braille would later develop a tactile reading and writing system.
The work of the Bible Society of Costa Rica to improve the life of visually impaired children was recently highlighted by the United Bible Societies:
It’s a Saturday morning and excited giggles can be heard from one of the rooms in the premises of the Bible Society of Costa Rica. Several children are lying on the floor on mats, preparing to listen to a story […]
The children and their families meet at the Bible Society offices one Saturday each month. While the children play games and learn about the Bible, their parents receive counseling and share their experiences. They are given practical information about how to help their children, such as news about the latest technologies available for the blind and guidance about schools for the blind. And the Bible Society makes sure that the children have Braille Scripture books.
In March of 2013, the Constitutional Court of Costa Rica ordered three public libraries in San Jose to install braille printers. Those libraries are located in Sabana Sur, Barrio Mexico and Paso Ancho. Also last year, online news site CRHoy.com reported that inspectors from La Caja, Costa Rica’s public health system, acknowledged that braille labeling of medications was substandard at best.
The Supreme Tribunal of Elections reported in 2013 that all voting booths for this year’s election will have special braille ballots to ensure that visually-impaired voters can exercise their right in complete secrecy and with minimal assistance.
In 2012, the Costa Rica Star reported on the availability of braille passports and even residency cards for visually-impaired expats, and also on the work of a bright young Tico who wants to make braille printing ecologically friendly.
