Hi everyone. Sorry for sharing this link again. I recently learned that the number of respondents to this survey on Braille use among blind people around the world is still very low.
Surveys related to Braille are not something that are conducted very often. They are not like, for example, screen reader surveys such as the WebAIM survey, which is carried out every few years. As a Braille user myself, I feel that studies like this are very important.
We can see how Braille use and Braille-related technology are facing many challenges. At the same time, the experiences of blind people across Asia — including South Asia, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the region — often receive less attention in global discussions.
Braille users across countries such as India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, and many other parts of Asia have our own experiences, educational backgrounds, languages, challenges, and ways of using Braille. These perspectives need to be represented at the global level. That is why I strongly encourage everyone to respond to this survey and, if possible, share it with other Braille users in your own communities and networks.
Previously, when this survey was shared in several groups, some concerns were raised: are organisations like these simply using surveys to obtain free feedback and expertise from blind people? Should blind people be paid for sharing their experiences and knowledge?
For me, this needs to be considered in light of the purpose of the research. If a study is conducted for commercial purposes, to generate profit, develop a paid product, or produce income, then it is entirely reasonable to ask whether the knowledge and expertise contributed by disabled people should be properly recognised or compensated.
However, when research is conducted by non-profit organisations to better understand the state of Braille and to advocate for the interests of Braille users, I think the context is different. Before drawing conclusions, it is important to look at who is conducting the study, why it is being carried out, what its objectives are, and how the findings will be used.
For me, the decline in Braille use, the future of Braille as a writing system, access to Braille technology, affordability, education, and how we can ensure that younger generations continue to have opportunities to read and write in Braille are all extremely important issues to study.
Across much of Asia, we do not have enough large-scale research on Braille use that reflects the diversity of our countries and communities. We also do not always see enough locally grounded research being brought into international discussions about the future of Braille.
So when international organisations make an effort to study the state and use of Braille more comprehensively, I think we should take the opportunity to make sure that voices from Asia are not missing from the picture.
If you use Braille, I really hope you can take a little time to complete this survey. If you know other Braille users, please share it with them as well, especially within your local, national, and regional networks.
The more people from Asia who respond, the harder it will be for the diversity of our experiences to be left out of the global picture of the future of Braille.
"braille readers and others who work with braille: I urge you to take the Global Survey on Braille: Literacy, Access, and Innovation! The survey seeks to gather information about global trends in braille literacy, access to braille, and familiarity / usage of tools and technologies that support braille. Feel free to spread this far and wide, also. Read more and take the survey by going to tiny.cc/braillesurvey
reshared this
Kaveinthran
in reply to Kaveinthran • • •I also would like to say that this survey would not magically fix the braille access issue that we have globally. Some had reached out to me and rightly pointed out that this survey would not be accessible to the largest number of braille readers, who are not technologically savvy. Although this survey is available in some languages, it is not available in many local languages.
If you have the ability and influence, power, do the following:
Thank you so much
Lynn Schneider
in reply to Kaveinthran • • •Allison Meloy
in reply to Lynn Schneider • • •