Dear Mr. Uma Shankar, I hope this message finds you well.
I would like to respectfully share my perspective on a commonly held myth—that Braille is outdated or no longer useful. From my lived experience, this is far from true. I continue to use Braille in many meaningful ways in my daily life, professional work, and learning. For persons with visual impairment, Braille remains a powerful tool for literacy, independence, and dignity. On the occasion of World Braille Day, I also authored an article highlighting the enduring relevance and impact of Braille. I am sharing the link below for your reference, which explains this in greater detail: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/world-braille-day-light-through-six-dots-sbi-foundation-0fumf I believe it is important that we continue to promote awareness and understanding about Braille, especially in conversations around inclusion and accessibility. On Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 3:36 PM Shek Mohammad Ali <[email protected]> wrote: > Indeed I second your views. > > It all depends how you are going to utilise the resource. > > I have been always embracing braille since my primary education and now > digital Braille in the form of Braille Screen input on iOS which has made > physical keyboard totally needless and thanks to refreshable braille > technology which has given new shape to it. > > If you have a refreshable Braille device it is quite comfortable and > convenient to read something with total privacy especially in crowded > places. > > It comes even handy in travel and total rest for your ears. > > I’m not a big fan of audio books (this is my personal opinion and no > offense please) and refreshable Braille technology has made possible to > read any digital text in ever shining Braille. > > > > *From:* 'PAUL MUDDHA' via AccessIndia <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Monday, January 19, 2026 3:23 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [AI] Is Braille Relevant in 2026? Or Are we Asking the > Wrong Question All Together? - Internal - Internal > > > > Info > > Braille is very relevant now and even after 100 years to come as it is > very important to vi which improves vocabulary, memory and qk to identify > things. > > Even now being AGM with latest gazettes > > I use braille everyday at office and at home > > And I impart braille to all my students. > > power of rememberance > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *[email protected] > *Sent:* 19 January 2026 15:17 > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [AI] Is Braille Relevant in 2026? Or Are we Asking the > Wrong Question All Together? > > > > *CAUTION:* This email is originated from outside Canara Bank. Do not > click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and > know that the content is safe. > > Let me answer this question by asking another question: > > > > Are sighted people throwing away written scripts because of > scientific/technological advancement? The answer in my view should be the > same! > > > > Vetri. > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *Shadab Husain > *Sent:* Monday, January 19, 2026 11:54 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [AI] Is Braille Relevant in 2026? Or Are we Asking the > Wrong Question All Together? > > > > While I’m emotionally attached to Mr. L. Braille and the braille script, > I’ll try to keep my passions and prejudices aside in my comments. > > > > This is because I can’t impose my likes and dislikes in declaring what one > should do and avoid. What’s right for me may not be for you and vice versa. > > > > How relevant braille is for us depends on our unique conditions: our > learning style, the time we have, the subjects we’re interested in and so > on. That said, I’ll add that learning a new skill, if the trade-off is > worth it, is always productive. Sometimes people with sight problems > develop hearing issues also, so braille feels necessary. > > > > Let’s get to the core… > > > > Mr. Braille introduced the braille script because he wanted the blind to > succeed, prosper, and find solutions to their problems. Such men aren’t > attached to their own work –their goal is people’s prosperity. > > > > I’m of the view that if Mr. Braille were on this list, he would advocate > adopting braille, advanced technology, or a mix of both – or whatever fuels > growth. He would argue that our growth is important, encouraging us to ask > questions that are capable of shaping our future. > > > > We can, for instance, ask: > > > > How accessible infrastructure we’re creating? > > > > How is literacy reaching those poverty-stricken visually impaired people > who live in remote villages? > > > > How many job vacancies and promotions are due, and what measures are being > taken in this regard? > > > > How many rules are being implemented in full letter and spirit? > > > > How successful we are in tearing off stigmas and stereotypes attached to > blindness? > > > > Thanks. > > > > Shadab > > Husainjournal.blogspot.com <http://husainjournal.blogspot.com/> > > > > > > On Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 9:44 AM Mujtaba Merchant <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Is very much relevant think about somebody who is deaf blind they use it > extensively > > Sincerely, > > > > Mujtaba Merchant > > Bangalore | INDIA > > Sent from iPhone ® > > > > > > > On 19 Jan 2026, at 7:56 AM, [email protected] wrote: > > > > This is the article I wrote in 2011 that goes in some ways to answer > your question: > > > > iPhones, iPads make Braille still relevant L Subramani Last Updated : 03 > January 2011, 22:21 IST Follow Us : 0 A new year has begun and the world is > stepping into the future with greater hope and optimism. In the light of > newer technology and the m... > > Read more at: > https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/iphones-ipads-make-braille-still-2382505 > > > > Read more at: > https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/iphones-ipads-make-braille-still-2382505 > > > > > > > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On > Behalf Of *Uma Shankar Veeravalli > *Sent:* 18 January 2026 12:17 > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [AI] Is Braille Relevant in 2026? Or Are we Asking the Wrong > Question All Together? > > > > Hi everyone, > > I hope this email finds you well. Following a conversation with a > colleague from the disability sector on January 4 this year, I found myself > drawn into a deeper, more reflective exploration of the relevance of > Braille in 2026. Having studied in a sighted school until Grade 8, with > only two years of formal Braille education, my relationship with Braille > has always been layered. While I continue to struggle with writing it > fluently, reading Braille, especially literature, has been a deeply > enriching experience for me. > > This curiosity led me to engage with more people, read diverse > perspectives, and reflect on where we truly stand today—and where we might > be headed—when it comes to the role of Braille in the lives of visually > impaired individuals. > > After spending considerable time in this rabbit hole, it felt inevitable > to share where I eventually landed in this ongoing conversation. > > I invite you to read my latest piece, Connecting the Dots – Is Braille > Still Relevant in 2026?, here: > > https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/connecting-dots-braille-still-relevant-2026-uma-shankar-veeravalli-znm4c > > I would love to hear your thoughts and theories on the subject. Looking > forward to hearing from you all. > > Cheers > Uma Shankar > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. 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