TODAY is World Braille Day. It is observed annually on January 4th to highlight the significance of braille as a vital communication tool for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The United Nations General Assembly officially recognized this day in 2019, coinciding with the birthday of Louis Braille, the inventor of the braille system. However, here in South Africa, the blind community finds itself embroiled in a legal battle over specific provisions in the Copyright Amendment Bill. These provisions criminalize the conversion of reading materials into accessible formats, such as braille or large print, without the copyright holder's permission, a critical issue impacting access to information and education for the visually impaired. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Christo De Klerk Blind SA president