How did this sign language work? The deaf were taught to make certain movements using their hands, faces, and bodies. These movements stood for things and ideas. People might move their forefingers across their lips. This meant, "you are not telling the truth." They might tap their chins (下巴) with three fingers. This meant "my uncle."

The deaf were also taught to use a finger alphabet. They used their fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. In this way, they spelled out words. Some deaf people could spell out words at a speed of 130 words per minute. Sign language and finger spelling are not used as much as they once were. Today, the deaf are taught to understand others by watching their lips. They are also taught how to speak.

Introduction to Braille

Louis Braille invented "Braille", a world wide system of embossed type used by blind and partially sighted people for reading and writing. It has been adapted to almost every known language, from Albanian to Zulu.

He died in 1852 and, for a while, it seemed as if this system would die with the inventor. Thankfully a few key people realised the importance of this invention. In 1868, Dr Thomas Armitage led a group of four blind men to found the British and Foreign Society for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind.

This small band of friends grew and grew to become Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB). We are now the largest publisher of Braille in Europe. Our pioneering work helps anyone with a sight problem - not just with Braille, Talking Books and computer training, for example, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges.

Where does the story begin?

Louis Braille was born in a small town near Paris in 1809. One day when Louis Braille was a small boy, he crept into his father's workshop to play. He had often seen his father making shoes and he decided he would like to try. He picked up an awl, a sharp, pointed tool used for making holes in leather. As he bent over, the awl slipped and pierced his eye, destroying it forever. Some time later his other eye became infected by the first and he lost his sight altogether. He was aged only 4, but still went on to become one of the most famous Frenchmen ever to live.

Louis Braille's school years

Despite his sight loss the young child attended the village school with his sighted friends for