Whether braille use is related to employment is a common question and one that is of interest to many professionals who work with people who are blind. A few research studies have addressed this question, starting with a study by Ruby Ryles published in 1996. Unfortunately, none of the studies can determine causation but only report whether an association between braille use and employment exists. A short summary of each study is provided below.
Ryles, R. (1996). The impact of braille reading skills on employment, income, education, and reading habits. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 90(3), 219-226.
In this study, Ryles examined how early braille literacy affects the lives of congenitally blind adults. Data collection involved short interviews with 74 legally blind people between the ages of 18 and 55 who did not have other disabilities. Using chi-square analysis, the study found that individuals who had learned to read with braille as their primary medium (as opposed to print as their primary reading medium) were significantly more likely to be employed. At the time of the study, 56% of those who learned to read with braille were employed, compared to only 23% of those who learned to read with print. Although more braille learners had average annual incomes in the highest range compared to print learners, the difference was not statistically significant. Significantly more print learners received Social Security Administration disability benefits (74% compared to 49% of the braille learners).
Bell, E. C., Ewell, J., & Mino, N. (2013). Blind and visually impaired adult rehabilitation and employment survey: Final results. Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research, 3(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.5241/2F1-35
In this 2011 survey study, Bell and Mino examined the employment status of 1,056 legally blind and visually impaired people in the United States and evaluated the relationship between several variables and employment. Using chi-square analyses, they determined that participants who read braille on a daily or weekly basis had higher employment rates and earnings. Braille readers were employed at a rate of 58%, while non-braille readers were employed at a rate of 44%. Employed braille readers had significantly higher average annual earnings than non-Braille readers ($45,947 compared to $34,826, respectively).
Bell, E. C., & Silverman, A. M. (2018). Rehabilitation and employment outcomes for adults who are blind or visually impaired: An updated report. Journal of Blindness Innovation & Research, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.5241/8-148
In a 2016 follow-up survey study to Bell and Mino’s (2013) study, Bell and Silverman collected data from 1,153 blind and visually impaired participants. They again evaluated the relationship between employment status and multiple variables, including frequency of braille use. Using chi-square analyses, they determined that participants who used braille at least weekly were more likely to be employed than those who used braille less than once/week or not at all. (They only reported the employment rate of those who used braille weekly or more, which was 65%.) Participants who used braille less than once a week were more likely to receive Social Security Disability benefits than those who used braille at least weekly (61% versus 44%).
Silverman, A. M., & Bell, E. C. (2018). The association between braille reading history and well-being for blind adults. Journal of Blindness Innovation & Research, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.5241/8-141
In this survey study, Silverman and Bell evaluated the association between braille reading status in childhood and current employment status for their 443 participants. Primary braille readers (who used braille as their primary reading medium in childhood) were compared to secondary braille readers (who received braille instruction at some time but did not use braille as their primary reading medium in childhood) and non-braille readers (who never learned braille).
The authors used logistic regression to evaluate differences in employment for the three groups. They did not find statistically significant differences in employment status based on braille reading status, although non-braille readers were less likely to be employed. However, when controlling for age of blindness onset and vision level (blind vs. partially sighted), the authors report that differences in employment rates became significant: primary braille readers were significantly more likely to be employed than the other two groups, and secondary braille readers were more likely to be employed than non-braille readers.
McDonnall, M. C., Steverson, A., Boydstun, J., & D’Andrea, F. M. (2025). Factors associated with proficient braille skills in adults Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 119(2), 97-108.
In this survey study based on data from 2021 and 2022, McDonnall and colleagues investigated factors associated with having self-reported proficient braille skill (i.e., fluent in contracted Grade Two braille) versus lower or no braille skill. Participants were 449 employed or unemployed (i.e., not working but interested in working) legally blind people. The authors used logistic regression with proficient braille skill as the dependent, or outcome, variable.
Factors associated with having proficient braille skills were (1) younger age at onset of visual impairment, (2) more severe visual impairment, (3) being female, (4) younger age, (5) higher self-reported AT skill level, and (6) being employed. Employment had a small association with proficient braille skills for the entire sample, but it had a stronger association with employment for the 264 people who were totally blind (as determined by a separate logistic regression model analysis).
Summary: As of late 2024, only five research studies had investigated a relationship between employment and braille, and the studies utilized different measures of braille (i.e., braille as a primary reading medium in childhood, frequency of current braille use, and proficient braille skill). Despite differences in braille measurement, all studies found an association between braille and a higher likelihood of being employed. Three studies utilized simple univariate analyses (chi-square), while the other two controlled for two or more variables. The existing body of evidence provides some support for a relationship between having braille skills or regular braille use and employment. However, the support is not strong, given the type of research conducted. More rigorous research in this area would be beneficial to add to the existing body of evidence.