Today (4 January) is World Braille Day. Did you know that Cwmbran is home to one of the country’s leading braille and accessibility format providers?
Pia, based on Llantarnam Industrial Estate, was founded in 1985 as a cooperative and has recently returned to employee ownership.
Pia developed the braille translation software, Braille Maker which became the leading UK braille translation software and formed the basis of Pia’s role in selling braille software and embosser.
Today they continue to provide a wide range of accessible print services to many large and small organisations, including braille and large print versions of national examinations and tests, ensuring children with sight loss throughout the UK can demonstrate their achievements.
This week Nick Thomas-Symonds, Torfaen MP, visited the unit to meet staff and see how publications are produced.
He said: “It’s been great to mark World Braille Day this year alongside Pia. With around 20,000 people using braille, it remains as important as ever to remove barriers to communication and information for people living with sight loss, as well as enhancing their independence.
“I’m incredibly proud we have a business like Pia in Torfaen producing accessible formats for people with sight loss, and I’m delighted to hear have recently returned to a cooperative, which is something this Government is looking to expand.”
Sharon Williams, from Pia, said: “Returning Pia back to its roots as an employee-owned trust has been a long-term plan to give the team and customers the assurance of succession and continuity.
“We were delighted with the support offered by Welsh Government and Cwmpas to get us over the line. We love the confidence this gives us that we can continue delivering accessible print for people with print impairment.”
World Braille Day is an International Day of Awareness recognising the incredible legacy of braille; the tactile code used by many blind and partially sighted people.