Governor M. Jodi Rell is proclaiming March 26, 2009 as Braille Literacy Day in Connecticut, to join in celebrating the United States Treasury's release on that date of a commemorative silver dollar coin that recognizes the bicentennial birthday anniversary of Louis Braille. The coin features the Braille letters "BRL" representing the first time that a coin minted in the United States will be fully accessible for identification by people who are blind. To find the image, go to www.nfbct.org and click on the link for the 2009 Louis Braille Commemorative Coin.

Born in 1809 in a small town in France, Louis Braille lost his eyesight from an accident in early childhood. At the time, schooling for children who were blind was primarily accomplished by having teachers read lessons aloud. In his early adolescence, Braille was inspired by a 12-dot code system used by soldiers for nighttime communication. After refining the concept to a 6-dot code, he began using the system at age 15 and went on to publish the first Braille book at the age of 20.

Governor Rell noted that "Braille is an important tool that benefits the blind in all aspects of work, family and community involvement. Through the proclamation of Braille Literacy Day in this State, I am encouraging all of our citizens to recognize the importance and value of making Braille available in public settings to ensure equal access. I particularly want to encourage our children with vision impairments to learn Braille as it will serve as a valuable literacy resource throughout your life."

Nationally, approximately 5,500 children are Braille Readers, with 100 students in Connecticut. The National Federation of the Blind has set a goal of doubling the number of children who are Braille literate by the year 2015. Presently, only about 10 percent of blind children are being taught Braille in school. Although technology has improved the lives of blind people by facilitating quick access to information, technology alone is not a substitute for Braille, that empowers the blind to read and to write tactually.

The National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut and the Board of Education and Services for the Blind will feature an educational display of Braille at the Legislative Office Building from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the morning of March 26, 2009.

For more information, E-mail us at: info@nfbct.org