2022
Cleveland Charge Host Braille Literacy Awareness Night with Special Jerseys and Guest Broadcaster
Greetings, my fellow Local Guides 👋🏽
The Cleveland Charge (G League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers) basketball team recently held Braille Literacy Awareness Night on January 13th, to highlight the importance of braille for the visually impaired community. I was excited to attend the game with my son and proud to be part of an effort to bring awareness and accessibility to an often overlooked segment of sports fans.
Westlake resident Allan Wylie, blind since birth and a talented sports commentator, returned to broadcast the game alongside play by play announcer Scott Zurilla.He uses a braille-based note system and his exceptional memory to cover various local sports and offers fans a unique perspective to game calling.
Special jerseys featuring raised braille for the team crest and player names were created, symbolizing inclusivity and accessibility. Coaches and staff also wore shirts with "Cleveland Charge" in legible braille. Posters and rosters were printed further promoting awareness and inclusivity.
To ensure legibility, New Jersey Sets used puff paint for larger text while Aille Design added specific-sized braille beading. Large sized braille images aren't able to be read, so the beads make the jerseys fully legible.
After the game these unique jerseys were auctioned off on DASH, with proceeds benefiting the Cleveland Sight Center.
The game was rescheduled to 8:00 pm to allow fans to watch both the Cleveland Browns playoff game and the Charge game, without missing any action. The Charge showcased their new state-of-the-art LED screen, promoting both awareness and entertainment. While the Browns and Charge both suffered losses that day, braille awareness night was a huge win.
This event went beyond just a basketball game. It was a platform for empowering individuals with visual impairments, educating the public about braille and fostering a more inclusive community. Wylie's involvement and the specially designed jerseys were powerful symbols of this organization and its commitment to being accessible to all fans.
@Mikeinthefalls Thank you for tagging me in this great post. I’m glad to hear that you and your son attended this event. It’s great to see the initiative to raise awareness about the importance of braille literacy. I would like to tag my friends @ShailendraOjha @BudiFXW @Tandrima2 @JustJake
@Mikeinthefalls informative & awareness post, i appreciate..... it's a wonderful subject of awareness like accessibility for All. firstly I noticed Braille lipi in India when I saw star India (ESPN star sports JV) program time book in Braille lipi nearly 2002 i saved that book in my knowledge bank, whenever open it I will definitely share the pics that book. BTW whenever I visit anywhere i always notice & try to find what facilities are available. (Accessible for all). Thanks for tag me @PrasadVR
I wasn't aware that January is Braille awareness month @Mikeinthefalls,
Thank you for the wonderful post and the information about the awareness night event.
Whereas it is common to see Braille letters on the elevator button, here are some unusual places where I noticed Braille letters.
For example, here's one in the Bullet Trains in Japan. This is on a handlebar:
Here's another place in Delhi - a medieval astronomical observatory in India, called the Jantar-Mantar' where they have installed a metal plate with the full information in Braille:
Here is the full post:
Also, when I come across an elevator in Gurugram where I lived 5 years ago, I took an initiative to install hand-made letters on the elevator buttons:
Hope you like the posts 😊
Absolutely wonderful evening for an awareness night for the visibility impaired @Mikeinthefalls I am glad you enjoyed this evening with your son.
Tagging my friend and fellow guide @KattyGeltmeyer who think will enjoy this post.
