The Unseen Minority: A Social History of Blindness in the United States: 8. The Language of the Fingers

Abstract: French military codes lay behind the first raised-dot writing systems, leading to Louis Braille’s 1829 alphabetic code. Other 19th-century codes included Moon Type, Boston Line Type, and New York Point. Differences between British and American braille were resolved in 1932. This chapter describes continuing improvements in braille machines and braille printing as well as the roles of the American Printing House for the Blind, Universal Braille Press, Perkins Institute, American Red Cross, and Library of Congress.

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