Midway through this century, Braille was placed within the reach of blind persons throughout the world when Unesco began the major task of adapting Braille to accommodate all languages and dialects. Invented in France between 1825 and 1829, Braille's role as the key to the cultural emancipation of the blind had previously been limited to countries using the Roman alphabet. Although a Braille alphabet now exists for most of the languages and dialects in the world, the majority of blind people cannot use it because they live in developing countries and are too poor, lack medical attention, are malnourished, or have social disorders. About 40 million (80 percent) blind people live in the developing countries. In many African and Asian countries, the education of blind children is neither free or obligatory. Barely 5 percent of blind African children receive any kind of education, and the situation is similar in India. As with their sighted sisters, blind women have less opportunity than males to receive education. Once young people learn to read Braille, they need to be provided with reading materials. Virtually all industrialized countries now have computerized Braille reproduction systems. Illiteracy among blind persons is avoidable. (CML)