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Reading using Braille - Source: ONE News -
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Two hundred years on, Louis Braille's system of reading and writing for the blind has changed the lives of millions around the world.
It was in 1809 that a man was born who would change the lives of blind people.
Louis Braille devised a system which allows people who can not see to read and write.
New Zealander Nigel Ngahiwi is a Braille user. His cane helps him navigate the physical world around him, but it is Braille that keeps him in touch with the rest.
"When you're sitting round listening to computer animated voices all day, the last thing you want to do is get home and listen to the same thing, so Braille just comes in handy. You can chill out with a good book," he says.
Louis Braille was blind too. His blindness was caused by an eye infection after an accident when he was young.
"For him Braille was literacy and he developed the code with his friends," says Mary Schnackenberg, President of the International Council For English Braille.
The code has been translated into every language in the world from Albanian to Zulu, including Te Reo Maori.
"Louis Braille said Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power," says Lisette Wesseling from the Foundation Of The Blind.
But in New Zealand, that power is somewhat limited.
Eleven thousand people are registered with the Foundation of the Blind, but because it says there is not enough money for teaching only around 500 use Braille.
In Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom it is compulsory for government agencies and private companies like banks to offer information in Braille.
In New Zealand it is not.
"It leaves a small section of our community as being sometimes being second class citizens because we cannot independently read very important information ourselves," says Wesseling.
Last October a rule came in which meant every taxi in New Zealand must have a Braille sign with the taxi's unique code and a phone number for complaints on the left passenger door.
But the foundation wants more.
"It's about independence, it's about privacy," says Schnackenberg.
"We're also really keen to stress how relevant Braille is and how there is not really very much of it in this country" says Wesseling.
The Minister responsible for disability issues, Tariana Turia, said in a statement she would be more than willing to talk with the foundation about making it mandatory here as well.
This means more New Zealander's could get talking about letting their fingers do the walking in years to come.
