Braille: Bridging the Gap in Digital Accessibility

Every year on January 4, we commemorate World Braille Day, which honours the birthday of Louis Braille, the inventor of the braille writing system. Braille is a tactile writing system that allows users with visual impairments to read and write by feeling patterns with their fingertips.

According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), an estimated 1.5 million people in Canada identify as having a sight loss impairment, with an additional 5.59 million at risk of developing one. These figures highlight the importance of closing the accessibility gap, particularly in our increasingly digital world. To bridge this gap in digital accessibility, adaptive technologies can convert digital text into braille, enabling users to fully engage in all aspects of life, including education, employment, and social participation. 

Join us on January 28 for Braille: Tangible Points of Knowledge and Progress, a bilingual session featuring Vangelis Nikias and Erik Burggraaf. They will explore the history, cultural significance, and latest technological advancements in braille, shedding light on how innovations are improving accessibility. 

Creating a More Inclusive Future at ESDC 

The Accessible Canada Act mandates that digital content and services be designed with accessibility for all users in mind, paving the way for a more inclusive future. In this context, braille (along with digital tools like braille displays, screen readers, and other assistive technologies) enables employees and clients with visual impairments to independently engage with digital content, fully participate in the workplace, and access services at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). 

At ESDC, we are not just accommodating people with disabilities; we are fostering a workforce that values diversity, equity, and inclusivity at its core. 

Here’s how braille makes a difference at ESDC: 

• Supporting Client Services: By providing braille materials, ESDC ensures that all clients can access information regarding government programs, services, and benefits.  
• Promoting a Culture of Inclusion: Whether it be on signage in physical spaces or in printed materials, incorporating braille into ESDC’s infrastructure reinforces a culture of inclusion.  
• Enhancing Digital Accessibility: ESDC’s commitment to accessibility extends to digital content. The Department is working towards an environment where braille users can navigate digital spaces just as effectively as others.  
• Enabling Workplace Accommodation: Through the support of teams like the IT Accessibility Office (ITAO), ESDC ensures that braille and other assistive technologies are part of the workplace accommodations available to employees.  

ITAO’s mandate is to provide adaptive technologies and innovative solutions that allow employees to thrive in the workplace, excel in projects, advance in their careers, and demonstrate their skills with greater ease. If you or your employees have a visual impairment and need assistance to perform tasks more effectively, please submit a request through the Request Management Tool. If you are not sure which technology best suits your needs, select “Client’s Need Assessment” or contact us directly at EDSC.TI-IT.A11Y.ESDC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca for expert guidance. 

The Government of Canada Is Actively Working Towards a Barrier-Free Canada  

As ESDC employees, even a small change on your part can have a significant impact on reducing barriers.

• Use built-in accessibility checkers to ensure that all your digital content is accessible.
• Enhance your knowledge of accessibility requirements by completing the Accessibility Curriculum and by participating in the Introduction to Digital Accessibility​ and Creating Accessible Content Using Microsoft 365 courses on Saba.
• If you are a web developer, follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 and prioritize accessibility features in your design process.  

-IT Accessibility Office