Valentin Haüy

Born in Saint-Just-en-Chaussée, France, in 1745, Valentin Haüy became one of the earliest and most influential advocates for the education of blind people. In Paris, he was moved by the harsh way blind people were often treated, and he set out to prove that they could learn to read, work, and participate fully in society when given proper instruction.

He is best known for founding the first school for blind students in Paris, later known as the National Institute for Blind Youth. Haüy developed raised-letter books so his students could read by touch, an important step in the history of accessible education. Among the students connected with that school was Louis Braille, whose later writing system would transform reading for blind people around the world.

Haüy's legacy is that of a practical reformer: he did not just argue for dignity and opportunity, he built institutions to support them. He died in 1822, but his work remains a key chapter in the history of education, disability rights, and reading by touch.