Siv Skoglund was visually impaired after a serious accident that occurred when she was 15 years old. When she was discharged from the hospital, she had a whole new world to discover and learn to exist in. The parents urged and made sure she learned Braille. She is now 66 years old and Braille has been crucial in many ways.

- I hadn't even finished high school once. It is my writing language that I can read. I use Braille very much in everyday life, for phonebooks, calendar, bank account, everything. I put everything on Braille, she says.

May use his imagination

But she is one of the few visually impaired people in the county who reads Braille. Many people are content with the aids that are available in sound form, according to the Visionary National Association in Värmland.

Siv Skoglund thinks that Braille and loaded material are two completely different things.

- Braille allows you to use your own imagination. If you read a speech book, it is an interpretation you get, depending on how it has been read, she says.

Greek was easier

When she studied as a priest, most of the course literature was read, but Siv Skoglund always took her own notes and summarized the literature in Braille. In fact, the studies of the Greek language became simpler, as the dot alphabet is the same as in Swedish.

- I actually had a little easier for me who could read with the same letters. But I didn't tell anyone, she says.

Braille on drugs

With International Braille Day, the Visually Impaired Federation recognizes the importance of Braille on medicines. Since 2005, there has been an EU directive that states that all pharmaceutical packaging must be labeled with Braille. But it is often the staff at the pharmacies accidentally paste for the items with the prescription label.

Siv Skoglund has been there several times.

- It is a heavenly way, that they do not imagine. It is very important that it is not pre-pasted. I don't understand that they can't learn, she says.