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Co Tyrone child blind from birth able to read same books as classmates thanks to Braille
Eryn Kirkpatrick has been blind from birth due to Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
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By
Jane Corscadden
- 21:28, 2 JAN 2024
Eryn Kirkpatrick marking World Braille Day at Fivemiletown College (Image: RNIB)
A child from Co Tyrone who has been blind from birth said using Braille means she's able to read the same books as her peers.
Eryn Kirkpatrick, 12, is from Fivemiletown and is enjoying her first year at Fivemiletown College. She has been blind from birth due to Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, and is an avid Braille user since starting school.
The Braille system is based on variations of six dots, arranged in two columns of three. Variations of the six dots represent the letters of the alphabet, punctuation, numbers and groups of letters. The system of raised dots enables blind people to read and write.
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