The Library of Congress has conceded to begin the word braille with lowercase b when used in any context other than a title or as a name. Therefore, to maintain uniformity within this program, The Maryland School for the Blind now uses the lowercase b on the word "braille" in all written material pertaining to the braille literacy, unless the word is part of a title or indicates a name.

Braille is a tactile reading system used to present text to a reader who has a visual impairment.

The system is based on a cell of six raised dots providing for 64 possible combinations. The dots that comprise the cells are dome-shaped and are about one sixth, or 16 thousandths (.016) of an inch high. The cells are spaced nearly one tenth (.09) inch apart and each takes up one quarter inch (.25) of horizontal line space. Braille lines are spaced four tenths (.4) of an inch apart, providing about two and one half lines per inch.

(Source: New Programmed Instruction in Braille, second edition, by Ashcroft, Henderson, Sanford and Koenig: SCALARS Publishing; 1994.)

See your name in braille!

For many individuals with visual impairments, braille is their primary method of communication. It may take some students several years to master braille. Have you ever wondered what braille looks like? Let us show you! Simply type your name, a word or phrase in the box below and you will see it appear on your screen in braille.

Type your name, a phrase or sentence in the box below.

See if you can decode this message written in braille:

Click here for an online braille card
Click here to find out what the above message says

To request a braille card (containing the braille alphabet/number system and a message to decode), contact:
Taiisha Pinkney, Public Relations Manager
410.319.5722
TaiishaP@mdschblind.org