There are many special specific things celebrated or appreciated during the year of which most of us have never heard. March is the month of Women’s History, and April is the month of Autism Awareness. October 4^th is Taco Day, and February 3^rd is National Carrot Cake Day. Many of these are very surprising, but I thought it was very interesting when I learned that January was National Braille Month.

Braille is a form of written language for people without the ability to see or people who have trouble with vision.) It is a series of raised dots that can be read by the fingers. January is named National Braille Month because Louis Braille (the inventor of braille) was born on January 4, 1809. When he was three he was accidently blinded in one of his eyes with a knitting needle, and, two years later, a disease in his other eye left him blind. When he was only fifteen years old, he invented braille. He was born in a small village near Paris, France. This invention has helped many visually- impaired people all around the world. Imagine being blind and unable to read. Reading is part of our everyday lives, something that is important for jobs, (or just the little things like ordering off a menu at a restaurant.) Braille is what made it possible for visually-impaired people to be able to read.

A famous quote by Louis Braille is when he said, "Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power." Just because someone does not have the ability to see does not mean they do not have the ability to learn.