French media: France's last remaining print braille publisher fighting for survival

Source: Global Times

[Special correspondent of Global Times in France, Dong Ming] According to a report by France International Radio, on January 4, "World Braille Day," people are commemorating the invention of braille by French blind person Louis Braille two centuries ago, while also discovering that France's last remaining print braille publisher is fighting for survival.

One-third of France's blind and visually impaired people use braille, but there are very few braille reading materials suitable for them. Out of the 100,000 books published annually in France, only 3% are transcribed into braille. The Braille Transcription and Editing Center (CTEB) in Toulouse was established in the late 1980s, mainly responsible for transcribing, editing, printing, and publishing braille books, magazines, and documents. Its library catalog has accumulated more than 2,000 titles so far. CTEB director Adeline Courson said: "We publish a wide variety of braille books, not only 'Harry Potter' and literary award-winning works, but also other novels, cookbooks, and computer books."

Braille publishing is not only costly but also a complex process, which is a "labor-intensive" work. CTEB currently has only 12 full-time employees and 60 volunteers. In France, the cost of producing a braille book is 700-900 euros, and for children's books like "Peppa Pig" with more tactile elements, the cost can reach as high as 1,500 euros. CTEB emphasized that reading traditional braille still has its place, especially for children who are just learning to read, as printed braille helps them learn spelling, grammar, and develop a sense of space.

To balance the high production costs, CTEB has long been publishing braille at three times the price of the original books. However, after 2023, considering the economic burden on the blind, CTEB reduced the price of books to the level of regular publications. After the price reduction, CTEB had to face huge losses, and the current funding gap has reached 300,000 euros. Courson stated that they have already submitted a relief application to the French Ministry of Culture. Although they received a financial commitment from the ministry, it has not been fulfilled to date. During the Christmas period in 2025, CTEB sent braille greeting cards to all members of the French parliament, which read: "The country should remember that the blind are also French citizens."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853518720396299/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.