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Sam Taylor

Sam Taylor

Braille: way more than just a code... it’s a life choice!

Growing up as a blind child in Sydney in the 80s, parents, teachers and governments leant towards integration and hence, I went to my local school, just like everybody else. And just like everybody else, I played games, made friends with half the school and got into plenty of trouble... But I wasn’t like everybody else, because I had something they didn’t. I could read in the dark!

I had Braille.

In many ways, I’ve been very fortunate with my education. I was lucky to have a kick-start to Braille from a particularly dedicated visiting teacher before school even commenced, so it wasn’t long until I was writing very short stories in the Braille code... with eye-watering spelling! I was a voracious reader of books both in Braille and audio, but always preferred the former. It meant I could see how words were spelt, and what names of places looked like when they were written. And, I could read under the covers... even after “lights out”!

I started piano when I was very young, and it wasn’t long until I was introduced to Braille music. This was life-changing. From then on, I encouraged any blind students who had a vague interest in music to also learn the code.

Not only did it mean that I could independently sing in a choir with sighted people who read their music from print, but I could write music myself as well.

After school, I studied a Bachelor of Music at the University of New South Wales, as well as some psychology and linguistics and German. Again Braille was paramount not only for remaining on the same level as my sighted peers, but to be able to read scores and write foreign language materials.

By this stage, technology containing refreshable Braille displays had become popular. We were able to carry literally hundreds of books (literary, mathematical or musical) on one small device. I knew at once that I wanted to share this type of technology with students and teachers everywhere.

I am among a large group of blind people who use Braille every day. For everything from labelling spices and canned foods, to reading to children, playing games and delivering speeches. Musicians have equal participation in musical activities because they can independently learn to play a piece without hearing it first.

Churchgoers can read the Bible and follow along in their songbooks with others in the congregation. Parents can follow a recipe to prepare nourishing food for their families, and children can succeed at school on their own merit in the same way as their peers, without constant help or supervision from support staff.

I’m one of the fortunate ones – I now get to work with students and adults on a daily basis, ensuring they have the best Braille devices that they can have to carry out their work or leisure activities. Braille has kept me in meaningful employment since I left school, and even though I may not always choose to use it in every situation, I know I have the ability to independently read and write whenever and wherever I choose.