World Braille Day – January 4

International days and weeks are opportunities to raise awareness of pressing concerns, mobilize political will and funding to tackle world issues and celebrate and highlight human achievement. International Days excite since before the United Nations was founded, but the UN has embraced them as a potent advocacy tool.

The United Nations are continuously reaching out to the blind and visually impaired through different programs. One billion people worldwide with disabilities are less likely to have access to health care, education, employment opportunities, and community involvement even in average circumstances. They are among the most marginalized in any crisis-affected community and more prone to experience poverty, and greater rates of violence, neglect, and abuse. Living in a lockdown has created a number of problems for the visually impaired in terms of freedom and isolation, particularly for those who rely on touch to express their needs and obtain information. Due to the pandemic, it is now clear how crucial it is to create relevant information in accessible formats, such as Braille and audible formats. If not, many people with disabilities might be more likely to be contaminated due to a lack of information on how to protect themselves and stop a pandemic from spreading. In order to ensure that everyone is included in the digital world, COVID-19 has also stressed the necessity to step up all initiatives connected to digital accessibility.

Parts of the UN system have used a number of best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage an inclusive response to COVID-19 and communicate information in Braille.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Malawi has created 4,050 braille materials on COVID-19 awareness and prevention. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has created Braille versions of the educational messages and distributed audio information, education, and communication materials to media professionals in Ethiopia. Several languages and accessible formats, such as Braille and “easy-to-read,” are available for UNICEF’s guiding notes. ‘COVID-19: Considerations for Children and Adults with Disabilities discusses concerns such as child protection, access to information, water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as other key factors for an inclusive workplace, mental health, and psychological assistance.