Before the adoption of standardized English Braille in 1918, American Braille was a popular braille alphabet used in the United States. Developed by Joel W. Smith, a blind piano tuning teacher, American Braille offered
a unique approach to braille literacy. This article delves into the history, characteristics, and eventual decline of American Braille.
The Development of American Braille
American Braille was introduced in 1878 as Modified Braille by Joel W. Smith at the Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston. In 1900, it was renamed American Braille. Unlike French Braille, which ordered letters numerically, American Braille reassigned letters based on frequency, with the most common letters written with the fewest dots. This approach significantly improved writing speed with the slate and stylus, which wrote one dot at a time.
The reordering of letters in American Braille was designed to enhance efficiency, making it easier for users to write quickly. However, this advantage diminished with the advent of braille typewriters, which became practical after 1950. Despite its initial popularity, American Braille eventually gave way to standardized English Braille.
Characteristics of American Braille
American Braille was based on the English alphabet and used a system of dots to represent letters. The letters were partially reassigned by frequency, with the most common letters being written with the fewest dots. This system was distinct from the French Braille values, which were retained in the standardized English Braille.
Punctuation in American Braille included the comma, semicolon, and parentheses, which were the same as in English Braille. However, other punctuation marks differed, reflecting the unique characteristics of American Braille. The system was used by notable individuals, including Helen Keller, who relied on American Braille for her reading and writing.
The Transition to Standardized English Braille
The adoption of standardized English Braille in 1918 marked the decline of American Braille. The standardized system offered a more consistent approach to braille literacy, aligning with international standards and facilitating easier communication across different regions.
The transition to standardized English Braille was driven by the need for uniformity and the desire to eliminate the confusion caused by competing braille systems. As braille typewriters became more prevalent, the advantages of American Braille's frequency-based system were overshadowed by the benefits of a standardized approach.
Today, American Braille is a historical footnote in the evolution of braille literacy, serving as a reminder of the innovative efforts to improve accessibility for the visually impaired.
