Ian Rankin marks launch of National Braille Week

Talking about the campaign Rankin said: "The gateway to education and inspiration that braille represents can never be under-estimated. I support anything that can be done to improve access to reading in all formats from braille to large print. It is vital that we support organisations like the Braille Press and Royal Blind and the important role they fulfill for people all over the country."

Royal Blind and the Braille Press represent one of the absolute leaders in their fields across the UK and Europe, providing a range of services to blind, visually impaired or multiply disabled people. The invention of braille has had an enormous effect on the lives of millions of people across 120 countries worldwide.

Richard Hellewell, Chief Executive of Royal Blind said: "The impact Louis Braille has had on the lives of the visually impaired is immeasurable. The ability to read and write is an extremely important gateway to opportunity for the UK's blind or partially sighted people, enabling them to be more independent. Braille is used all over the world but outside our community there is little knowledge or understanding about its use. We see National Braille Week as a great way to raise awareness, which we hope will inspire interest and support for Braille."

At the launch a passage from Fleshmarket Close adorned the walls of the real street in the centre of Edinburgh to highlight that people with sight impairment or blindness should be able to experience fiction and the inspiration of creative works just like anyone else. To mark the appeal, the Press is printing a Braille version of Rankin's Death is Not the End and the author will visit the Press to see the first printed copies. Donations to the campaign can be made via the National Braille Week website at www.nationalbrailleweek.org or by calling 0300 321 0000.