Creating a Bible in Braille is a tall order, but Jehovah’s Witnesses have proved themselves up to the task.
Jehovah’s Witnesses offer Braille literature in more than 50 languages; and for more than 100 years, they have been producing Bible-based publications for people who are blind or have limited vision.
As World Braille Day is marked today January 4, many are considering the resources available to people around the world who are blind or have low vision. According to the World Health Organization, this may include some 2.2 billion people.
In 2022, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures was released in Braille in three languages: German, Korean, and Ukrainian. Jehovah’s Witnesses have also produced Braille publications for people throughout Africa, including publications in Chichewa, a language spoken in Malawi.
All Bibles in Braille are printed at Wallkill, New York, U.S.A., using a Braille embosser. This machine embosses Braille dots onto special paper, which is then collated and bound into volumes that are shipped to the branch offices for distribution to publishers. A complete edition of the New World Translation in Braille may comprise over 30 volumes and occupy some two meters (6.6 ft) of shelf space. In addition to the transcribed text, the Bibles and publications include visual aids, such as maps and diagrams, converted into a format that blind people can comprehend.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also produce a workbook titled “Learn to Read Braille.” The workbook is designed for a sighted person and a blind person to use together. It comes with a kit containing a slate and stylus so that the Braille learners can use the tools to emboss Braille characters.
This process can help the Braille learner more easily memorize characters. Literature for the people who are blind or have low vision is available in several languages in these formats:
Audio files from the JW Library app and jw.org website.
Large print.
Braille.
Electronic files for notetakers (portable electronic devices with a speech synthesizer
and a refreshable Braille display).
Electronic files for screen readers (computer programs that read audibly whatever is on the monitor).