Valentin Haüy The father of the education for the blind

by Beatrice Christensen-Sköld

Published by the Swedish Library of Talking Books and Braille (TPB).

Beatrice Christensen Sköld
Valentin Haüy – the Father of the Education for the Blind
The Swedish Library of Talking Books and Braille (TPB)

In this study the life and works of Valentin Haüy are described. Valentin Haüy (1745-1821), of many called the father of the education of the blind, founded a school for blind children of both sexes in Paris in 1785. In 1786 he published the first known book about education for the blind. His main idea was the necessity of educating the blind to an independent life. Thus the blind were trained for different professions such as printing, basket making, sewing etc. Another of Haüys ideas was that blind children should not be segregated but educated together with sighted children. His method of printing books with letters in relief and ink-print was a minor revolution that enabled the blind to read books.

In the study a hitherto unknown period in Haüys life is described. It is the period 1807-1820 which he spent in St Petersburg, then the capital of Russia. In the study there is also an analysis of Haüy’s influence on the education of the blind in other European countries.

Key words: Valentin Haüy, education of the blind, relief print, visual communication, history