Information Accessibility in the Form of Braille

Abstract

Braille is often proposed by the uninformed as the optimal solution to providing an alternative to visual information to the visually impaired. The purpose of this article is to highlight the complexity of the braille user population and discuss the importance of understanding the use of braille as a solution for equal access of information. As part of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech program and its goal to make home tests accessible to people with disabilities, a series of interviews with industry experts was conducted to better understand braille technologies and the braille user space. Published literature findings provided additional context and support to these interviews. It was found that expert consensus and data from published literature vary. The braille user population is complex and lacks consistent characterization. Visually printed media should not be solely relied on to communicate information. In conclusion, braille is one solution for improving access to information. Understanding the unique needs of braille users and how they engage with information in a world that is heavily reliant on visual content, is a critical step in developing and implementing non-visual alternatives that will collectively address information access.