Behind the Dots: Bridging Education Through Tactile Writing System

Gwangju Sekwang School is the only special education school for visually impaired students in Gwangju, offering programs ranging from kindergarten to high school, as well as two specialized courses. For these students, braille is the most essential tool for acquiring fundamental knowledge and skills, just as printed books are for sighted students. Kim Seon-deok works as a braille transcriber at this school, quietly yet passionately helping students see the world through their fingertips. She converts standard printed materials into braille, making them accessible through touch. The Chonnam Tribune visited Gwangju Sekwang School to meet her and talk about her life as a braille transcriber. 

An Encounter with Braille
Kim Seon-deok first discovered the profession of braille tranｓｃｒｉｐｔion by chance in 2005. “I came across a newspaper article on Nov. 4, Hangul Braille Day, introducing a rare profession called ‘Braille transcriber’,” she said. Although she was unfamiliar with the term, she felt drawn to the specialty instantly. “It suits my personality. I am the kind of person who is meticulous and thorough at work.” 

In the early days of her journey, she did not consider turning it into a career. Her interest in braille, nonetheless, grew over time, eventually leading her to obtain certification from the Korea Blind Union. She commenced working in the field in 2007, spending two years at a welfare center for people with visual impairments. In 2009, she joined Gwangju Sekwang School, where she continues to make valuable contributions. With experience accumulated over nearly 20 years, Kim reflects on how braille is significant to her. “At first, I was simply fascinated by how dots could form words,” she shared. “Now, to me, braille is the most captivating and meaningful set of six dots in the world.”

Not Easy, but Worthwhile
At the school, Kim is responsible for braille tranｓｃｒｉｐｔion to support the academic needs of blind students. “We work on everything from simple assignments to mock college entrance exams,” she said. While some tasks are easy to complete, others—like mathematics test papers—can take several hours. Accuracy is the key, especially when adapting non-text elements. “Many materials today ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅ images and emojis. Since they cannot be printed in braille, I have to describe them in a way that makes sense to the students.” Despite recent technological advancements, her job still involves many manuals. “I use a braille printer to produce tactile documents, whereas the students themselves mainly use digital braille and audio tools,” she explained. These technologies are certainly helpful, but human review remains essential to catch errors and understand context properly.

At times, the job can be lonely. “Braille tranｓｃｒｉｐｔion is such a rare profession that I have few colleagues who fully understand the pros and cons of my work.” What has kept motivating her to commit to this rocky journey are small yet touching moments. “I feel fulfilled when I see students reading the braille that I have transcribed, preparing for exams, and getting accepted to college.”

Calling for Support and Interest
As an intermediary connecting visually impaired students with education, Kim is assured that, day by day, they are learning, gaining new knowledge. Moreover, she implied that there should be more far-reaching institutional support to ensure equal learning opportunities for visually impaired students. “Only third-year high school students receive braille versions of national college entrance exam practice tests. First and second-year students are left out, even though they are capable of sitting for the tests and are eager to prepare carefully,” she noted. 

She thinks that society must not let individuals with visual impairments feel excluded, particularly people who are exposed to vision loss late in their life. “Without braille, how can they study, read, or create music? Like Hangul, a writing system for the people, braille is a valuable and effective means of communication for those with visual impairments.” 

For Aspiring Transcribers
Kim offered honest advice to those considering becoming braille transcribers. “This job is not for everyone. You sit at a desk, focusing on dots all day. If you enjoy being active, you might find it boring,” she said. “The demand for the position is also relatively low, but if you are genuinely interested in braille tranｓｃｒｉｐｔion as your job, I recommend enrolling in a course to obtain certification and spending time with people who have visual impairments.” Kim’s journey of learning braille has not exactly been a bed of roses. She confronted several difficulties in acquainting herself with the braille alphabet, and passing the exam necessitated massive efforts. She recalled, “At first, it felt impossible for me to read... just all these series of bumps. But with practice, it gradually made sense, like a magic eye puzzle. Once you are comfortable reading and writing braille quickly, you will be ready for certification and gaining hands-on work experience.” A promising braille transcriber should be both realistic and enthusiastic about their future responsibilities.

Kim is grateful for the growth of her profession. “I hope that in the future, no person with a disability will be isolated from others or denied access to  information. I  dream of a society free from inequality.”

By Kim Min-gyeong, Reporter