NFB Lesson Links

What We’re Learning: The Code Behind Braille

Ever wondered how a grid of simple raised bumps can open up an entire world of reading and writing? Welcome to Braille Lesson 1! Braille isn't a secret code or a separate language—it’s a clever tactile system built on a small, standardized grid called the braille cell. Each cell consists of two vertical columns containing six total dots: dots 1, 2, and 3 run down the left side, while dots 4, 5, and 6 line up on the right. By pressing key combinations on a manual braillewriter, using a classic handheld slate and stylus, or generating braille electronically via transcription software, transcribers map plain print into clear, touchable text.

The coolest part about braille is its elegant mathematical pattern. Instead of memorizing 26 completely random dot layouts, the alphabet builds on itself in tiers. The first ten letters (A through J) use only the top and middle dots. Once you know those, the next ten letters (K through T) are formed simply by keeping that top pattern and adding Dot 3 to the bottom left of every cell! The remaining letters (U through Z) add both Dots 3 and 6 to the bottom. The only wild card in the system is the letter W. Because Louis Braille originally invented this system in 19th-century France—where the letter W wasn't part of the standard French alphabet back then—it skips the pattern entirely with its own unique dot combination!

Numbers are just as sleek and simple. Rather than adding ten extra complex symbols to learn, braille reuses the exact same dot shapes as the letters A through J to stand for 1 through 0. To tell your fingers that a cell is a number instead of a letter, you just place a special Numeric Indicator symbol (dots 3-4-5-6) directly in front of it! With just these foundational patterns down, club members are already decoding full words, reading tactile phrases, and taking their first steps toward mastering Unified English Braille.

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HS1qdqQ4kztOjxdtjiNxuBi8hAHyBZ7T/view?usp=drive_link

Source: National Federation of the Blind, "Lesson 1 The Braille Alphabet and Numbers" (2015). Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://nfb.org.