TEHRAN -- Over 7,000 children with visual disabilities across Iran will gain improved access to inclusive education through enhanced production of braille textbooks following UNICEF’s procurement of an advanced braille embosser for the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Special Education Organization (SEO). 
The Braillo 600 SR2 braille embosser will address the critical need for accessible learning materials among the 7,145 children with visual disabilities currently studying in Iran’s formal education system. This includes 5,239 girls and boys in mainstream schools and 1,906 in special schools, ensuring more equitable educational opportunities for these students. 
The initiative addresses a pressing challenge in Iran’s education system, where the previous two Norwegian braille embossers, after 35 years of service, have become unreliable and insufficient for current needs. The SEO must produce approximately 28,000 braille textbooks annually, comprising 194 subject-grade specific textbooks in 279 volumes, to ensure all students have access to educational materials before the school year begins. 
Access to braille learning materials is essential for ensuring children with visual disabilities to  fully participate in society and realize their rights. This new embosser will serve generations of students, with an estimated 214,350 children benefiting over its 30-year lifespan.