Overview
- The United Nations set January 4 as World Braille Day in 2019 to raise awareness of braille’s role in enabling the rights of people who are blind or visually impaired.
- The observance coincides with Louis Braille’s birthday, reflecting the six‑dot system he developed after adapting Charles Barbier’s tactile night writing.
- More than 300 million people globally live with visual impairment, underscoring the continuing need for accessible formats and tactile literacy.
- In Peru, estimates indicate about 600,000 people with visual disabilities and roughly 160,000 who are blind, yet only 23,696 were registered in 2025, with 24% in Lima and Callao and notable shares in Cusco and Piura.
- Reports highlight shortages of ophthalmologists and specialized services in rural regions, while groups such as the Unión Nacional de Ciegos del Perú promote inclusion through education, advocacy and accessible materials.