THE STORY OF LOUIS BRAILLE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
The very tool which caused him to go blind could be used to make a raised dot alphabet that
would enable him to read.
a. What was the ‘tool’ that caused him to go blind?
The tool that caused him to go blind was one of his father’s tools used to make leather
goods.

b. What led to the idea of creating a raised dot alphabet?

The alphabet code used by the French army earlier proved cumbersome. So, it was
left to Louis to come up with a more efficient method. He realized that he could use
the very tool that had left him blind to make raised dot alphabets. Then, he could trace
the raised dot alphabets with his fingers and read at a faster pace.

c. Explain how the alphabet works, in your own words.

The alphabet is made up entirely of six raised dots. The position of the different dots
represents the different letters of the alphabet. A person can use his fingers to trace
these dot alphabets to read sentences in Braille.

d. What is this alphabet called and why?

This alphabet is called Braille, named after its inventor Louis Braille.

QUESTION & ANSWER

1. Do you think Louis interest in reading helped him become an inventor?
Louis’ interest in reading helped push him towards becoming an inventor. His love for
reading was so strong and because there were no proper facilities at the time for blind
people, he had to pave his own way and come up with his own method.

2. According to you, which character traits exhibited by Louis Braille are important to
overcome hardship?
Louis Braille managed to overcome his hardships by being determined and adaptable.
He worked hard at his studies and was intent on getting a good education. He wanted
to read as easily and as quickly as those who could see and always thought about
ways in which this could be done. When he heard of a code that was being used by
the French army to help those who were blind read, he studied it and worked on ways
to improve it, and finally managed to come up with his own method, which is used to
this day.