Anna Alexandrovna Adler, an outstanding figure in the history of Russian philanthropy and enlightenment. Her contribution to the development of accessible education for blind people in Russia is hard to overestimate. Born into a family of impoverished nobles, Anna showed an interest in pedagogy from childhood and sought to help people. She was the first to organize the printing of books in Braille in Russian, thus opening a new world of knowledge for the blind.

Inspired by the idea of making literature accessible to all, Anna traveled to Europe in 1884 to study advanced practices for working with the blind. She visited educational institutions in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, England, and Switzerland, where she studied the technologies for printing books in Braille. With her own funds, she purchased printing equipment in Berlin and brought it to her estate in the village of Troitskoye in the Moscow province, where she organized the first printing house for printing Braille books in Russia.

Overcoming bureaucratic obstacles took Anna a whole year, but in December 1885, she published the first Russian book in Braille, "A Collection of Articles for Children's Reading." This publication included not only the alphabet and numbers but also works by Nekrasov, stories, and the biography of Louis Braille. The book became an important step in the development of education for blind children and adults in Russia.

After the release of the first book, Anna continued to develop her work. She trained teachers and typesetters, shared methodologies, and expanded the range of publications. An important achievement was the creation of a Braille fund at the Rumyantsev Museum, which became the first major library for the blind in the country. Her example inspired others, and soon printing houses for Braille books began to appear in other cities.

Even after the revolution, Anna did not abandon her work. She participated in the creation of the All-Russian Society of the Blind, helped publish the magazine "The Life of the Blind," and actively supported the blind in matters of education and employment. Anna Alexandrovna Adler passed away in 1924, leaving behind a significant legacy and inspiring many to continue her work. Her efforts laid the foundation for the further development of education and social support for the blind in Russia.