According to the statistics from National Federation of the Blind, there are around 253 million people who are blind or partially sighted. However, only 1% of the existing printed material in the world has been translated into braille. Moreover, these very few translated braille texts are read by only about 10% of the visually handicapped in the world due to lack of education.
Braille is a tactile reading and writing system used by blind or people who are visually impaired. Using raised dots to represent the letter and punctuation, the blinds can access to print materials. This innovative written code, however, has been facing some problems. Written from right-to-left and reading from left-to-right, this two different way of reading and writing makes it inconvenient for learner. Additionally, the distribution rate of braille printer and readers are lower than 5% because of the cost. Considering that 90% of visually impaired persons are living in developing countries, this is inefficient.
The solution is simple. We need easy-operating braille at affordable price. A Korean social enterprise, Social Core achieved to invent and release easy portable braille called ‘Vrailler’. This groundbreaking braille printer improved several problems. Unlike previous braille printer, it is one-way, that is writing and reading directions are the same so that easy for both teacher and learner. Vrailler, in addition, is small-sized, portable and easy to handle with reasonable price so that everyone can have access to it.
Yoo, a founder of Social Core, is not visually handicapped though, he can understand the other handicapped persons as the brain-disabled by himself. He said that the most of physically handicapped people are lack of confidence. In order to communicate with different types of handicapped people, he realized the necessity of proper communication tool such as braille for the blind and sign language for the deaf. This is why he invented portable braille printer and his next goal is to release a board game series using sign language.
There tend to be misconception in our society that they deserve financial help. Is it really a helpful way? It is not. Instead, we need to help them in a way that they can make a living by themselves. Almost more than a half of the blind are literally unemployed because of lack of education and opportunities. Not just material support to them, a freedom to achieve their dreams regardless of handicap will be more meaningful for them.
Erika Jeon
Asia Journal
(Los Angeles Times Advertising Supplement)
