ICEVI-WBU Global Braille Literacy Campaign
More Braille: More Empowerment
A global movement affirming that braille literacy is a right, not a privilege.
About the Campaign
The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) and the World Blind Union (WBU) have joined forces to launch the Global Braille Literacy Campaign – “More Braille: More Empowerment.”
The campaign unites multi-disciplinary professionals, educators, partners, policy makers, families, governments, braille producers, braille users, advocacy organisations and others to ensure that every person who uses the sense of touch to communicate can learn and use Braille as the foundation for education, inclusion, and lifelong learning.
Although Braille is 200 years old, it remains central to literacy and empowerment. Yet worldwide, many still lack access to braille instruction, materials, and technology. Through collaboration, ICEVI and WBU are working to change this reality.
Campaign Vision
A world that recognises braille literacy as a fundamental right — empowering people who are blind, deafblind, and with low vision to grow, dream, and shape their futures.
Our Goals
- Promote braille as a lifelong literacy medium for children and adults who require it.
- Expand equitable access to braille in print, electronic, and refreshable formats.
- Support effective braille teaching and learning at all stages of education.
- Encourage technological innovation in braille input, output, and design.
- Share multilingual resources and culturally relevant approaches.
- Conduct research to demonstrate braille’s educational, social, and economic benefits.
Focus Areas and Current Activities
The campaign operates through three interconnected focus areas, with activities coordinated across all ICEVI and WBU regions.
1. Advocacy and Media
- Promoting braille as a human right and celebrating its continuing relevance.
- Producing multilingual advocacy videos showcasing braille users, teachers, and technology innovators
- Designing and releasing campaign posters and social-media content in multiple languages and accessible formats.
- Building a global narrative through newsletters and online updates that highlight braille advocacy events.
- Raising awareness of eBraille and MathCAT, in partnership with DAISY Consortium, to promote digital file exchange and access to braille in hard copy and soft copy formats.
2. Information Resources
Providing accessible, practical information to strengthen global braille capacity.
- Compiling and creating braille-related information, training materials, guides, and device and supplier lists to support government and non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, professionals, families, technology companies and publishers.
- Compiling information on national braille authorities, Marrakesh Treaty ratification and changing national copyright laws.
- Sharing braille content through the ICEVI and WBU websites, global networks and an information hub for policy makers, educators, and braille producers to access evidence-based materials.
3. Research
Generating global evidence on braille literacy, technology, and inclusion.
- Launching an online Global Braille Survey (January 2026) to explore the relevance, use, challenges, and benefits of braille literacy worldwide.
- Conducting an online Braille Standardisation Survey in collaboration with DAISY Consortium and the World Braille Council to identify countries without national braille authorities or code setting authorities.
- Supporting research on MathCAT, ensuring mathematical content is fully accessible in braille and digital formats.
- Gathering international data on eBraille adoption and compatibility across languages.
Collaborative Partnerships
The campaign thrives on partnership. Current collaborators include but are not limited to:
- DAISY Consortium
- Accessible Books Consortium
- European Blind Union Braille Working Group
- International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
- Braillists Foundation
- Individual contributors from around the world
Together, these partners are helping create a more connected and innovative braille ecosystem that ensures consistency, quality, and universal access. It is anticipated that by the time the campaign is launched, even more partners will join and provide support to the campaign.
Campaign Timeline
- Soft Launch: World Blindness Summit, São Paulo – September 2025
- Official Launch: World Braille Day – 4 January 2026
- Campaign Duration: 2026 – 2027
Join the Campaign
Your organisation can play a vital role in advancing braille literacy worldwide.
Get involved through:
- Sponsorship and partnership
- Participation in working groups and research
- Sharing braille resources and information
Learn more or register your interest: email braillecampaign@icevi.org
Become a Campaign Sponsor
This is a unique opportunity to align your organisation with ICEVI and WBU in supporting braille literacy and inclusion.
All sponsorship funds will be used exclusively to support the aims and objectives of the global braille literacy campaign, including:
- expanding information and access to braille resources and technologies
- amplifying global advocacy and awareness
- supporting research to inform policy and investment
- enabling campaign participation from low-resource regions
Sponsorship levels (USD):
Diamond Partner – $10,000
Platinum Partner – $5,000
Gold Partner – $2,500
Silver Partner – $1,000
Bronze Partner – $500
Supporter – Less than $500 [keep the small amounts on the website]
Sponsors are acknowledged on ICEVI and WBU websites, campaign materials, and event communications, with opportunities for participation in working groups and promotional events.
Support the campaign and be one of the first to light one or more of the 200 candles on Louis Braille’s birthday cake. Your support will help to light the way for millions of children to read, write and communicate, to be empowered, and to thrive as independent enabled individuals.
Campaign Announcements
- Announcing Joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (English) – PDF
- Announcing the joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (Large Print, English)
- Announcing the joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (English) – Word
- Announcing Joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (French) – PDF
- Announcing Joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (Large Print, French)
- Announcing Joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (Spanish)
- Announcing Joint ICEVI-WBU global braille literacy campaign (Large Print, Spanish)
