Fast facts about braille

Since the advent of the braille alphabet, which is a code of raised dots to represent letters and numbers tactually, individuals with visual impairment have been able to read and communicate in a new way. Braille was developed by Louis Braille, who was born on January 4, 1809. Today it is used in almost every country in the world, and adapted to almost every known language. Even though braille has been around for some time, there is much that people may still find surprising about it.

1. The majority of blind people do not know braille. Estimates from the American Printing House for the Blind suggest that only 8.2 percent of blind students are braille readers.

2. There is more than one level of braille. Braille is either uncontracted or contracted, or "grade 1" and "grade 2." Grade 1 translates each printed character into a braille cell. Grade 2 uses contractions and shortcuts to save space and time when reading. Most books are printed with contracted grade 2 braille.

3. People can rely on a special version of braille just for mathematics. The Nemeth Code can be used to transcribe math, algebra and calculus.

4. The Americans With Disabilities Act mandates that all ATMs must be accessible to people with visual impairments, which is why braille code is featured on the keypads.

5. Some fast braille readers can read a book at a speed of 400 words per minute, compared to a sighted person who may read 300 words per minute.

6. There's even braille for music. Different characters dictate note name and note length as well as rests and other dynamics.