Today, Braille is used all over the world in many languages. Simply put, Braille is vital to literacy for the blind. We continue to promote and advocate for Braille through programs such as NFB BELL® Academy.
Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar Coins (2009)
A silver dollar coin has an image of a boy reading a book in Braille, in front of a shelf of books with the word “INDEPENDENCE” across the top. There is Braille text reading “Braille.” On the other side of the coin, there is an image of Louis Braille over his name, with the dates 1809 on the left and 2009 on the right.
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, the US Mint released the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar on March 26, 2009, marking the first time in history that a legal tender within the United States featured readable Braille. This was made possible by the Louis Braille Bicentennial—Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, which was backed by the National Federation of the Blind to help promote Braille literacy.
Collect your own piece of Braille history. The NFB’s Independence Market sells the commemorative proof coin issued by the United States Mint. To purchase your Braille coin, email us at independencemarket@nfb.org, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2216.
6 Dot Dash Medal (2024)
A ribbon with a medal lays on a table. The medal is a gold rectangle that says “Change the World” over an image of the Earth, and “Confidence” at the bottom. There is Braille on the medal. The ribbon reads “Take Charge with Confidence” on one side and “6::DotDash 2024” on the other side, with the image of Braille dots printed underneath each phrase.
Braille isn’t just for reading books or taking notes. This medal was given to participants of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado’s 6 Dot Dash in 2024, an annual 5k race that supports Braille literacy for blind children, blindness skills training, and more. The raised illustration of the Earth and Braille on the medal reminds us that Braille can be anywhere and incorporated into daily life.
Braille Day
The United Nations established International World Braille Day in celebration of its creator, Louis Braille. The first celebration was held on January 4, 2019. Every day, thousands of blind people use Braille for everything from shopping lists to labels for canned goods, from reading novels to solving math and scientific equations, from learning a piece of music to composing one. The increasing availability of Braille signs makes it easier for blind people to get around hotels, office buildings, government facilities, university campuses, and more. Braille is as flexible as print, can be learned in roughly the same amount of time, and can be read just as fluidly.
Explore cool places we use Braille from our 2025 World Braille Day celebration.
tenBroek Trivia Question 1
True or False? There is an asteroid named Braille.
tenBroek Trivia Question 2
The National Federation of the Blind has a Braille copy of the entire seven-book Harry Potter series in our archives. How many total Braille volumes are in the series?
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