Kids and Teachers

Fun with Braille

Literacy is important for everyone - whether visually impaired or sighted. For children who are sigthed, these resources provide ways to help them understand alternate forms of communicating and accessing the world. We invite you to share these exercises with students and children in your life to help them have fun learning braille and begin to understand how braille literacy changes lives for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  

• Braille Riddles Download and print this Word Document to decode fun riddles in braille!
• Braille Bug From the American Foundation for the Blind, this website helps children learn about braille and includes trivia, printable braille alphabet and games and secret messages. 
• “Arthur’s Communication Adventures”: This WGBH-TV website helps children who are hearing and sighted become more aware of ways that children who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard-of-hearing learn, play, and enjoy the same things they do.
• Coloring fun: Print and color Louis Braille's portrait from Crayola's website.

Drawing Pictures with Your Perkins Brailler

Written by Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library director Kim Charlson, Drawing with Your Perkins Brailler, contains step-by-step directions for creating 36 different drawings including basic shapes, various animals, and pictures with holiday and transportation themes.  The actual braille pictures are included to show what the drawings will look like when completed. This book is available in large print and braille editions. Order your copy today.

Young Heroes - the Life of Louis Braille

Download a free audio described video on the life of Louis Braille from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Information for Teachers

Watch our Webcast: Early Literacy for Students with Multiple Disabilities or Deafblindness. This on-demand webcast offers techniques and adaptations that teachers and parents can employ to encourage literacy at an early age.

Tips for Teaching Braille: In the braille instruction section of our Perkins Scout you'll find teaching tips and resources for braille instruction, and explore the debate about teaching contracted versus uncontracted braille.