International Day of the Blind
November 13 · Level 3 · #1759 of 2238
International Day of the Blind highlights blind people's rights, independence and opportunities. It draws attention to accessible education, employment, transport and information as essential parts of participating fully in community life.
How it is celebrated: libraries, advocacy organisations and educational institutions hold talks, accessible book displays and activities about removing barriers. Demonstrations introduce Braille publications and screen readers that turn on-screen text into speech.
The date marks the birthday of Valentin Haüy, who founded an early school for blind students. His school taught reading through raised letters that pupils could feel, before the Braille system existed.