The World at Your Fingertips

Braille House exists to empower people of all ages who are blind or have low vision through alternative formats. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can access knowledge and information through touch literacy.

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Real Stories

Our Stories

Santiago Velasquez at his presenation to Braille House on the importance of Braille

Hear from Santiago

Santiago has been inspired by his vision impairment and electrical engineering expertise to invent solutions to make this world more inclusive.  He founded two companies, EyeSyght and Hailo, to solve accessibility issues in transport, navigation, business, education, and employment.  Richard Barker with Santiago Velasquez National and international transport agencies, governments, and tech companies are currently in discussions to implement his inventions. Santiago has won excellence...
Riley holding his blue Braille House reading bag.

Meet Riley

“I wish I had found Braille House years ago,” says Riley, a Year 11 student from Cairns. He discovered Braille House a year ago while searching for braille books online. “Braille books can cost around $1,000, so my reading was limited. It was very frustrating.” Now, Riley proudly reads two books every weekend, enjoying historical and crime novels. He also appreciates receiving the In Touch magazine, which lists available titles. “I was eager to read The Cane [by Mar...

Hear from Patrons of the Library

Issy - Library Patron

16-year-old library patron, lives in Brisbane
This library is full of fantastic book genres. The books that I am sent are great. I LOVE Braille House Library!

Leslie Buchanan - Library Patron

Library patron for over a decade, based in Western Australia.
I like that I have a personal connection to Braille House. I call up Eva [Braille House’s librarian] and tell her what [book topics] I want. She knows me and I know her. I don’t know what I’m going to get — it’s a surprise! Most of the time, I wouldn’t have picked those books myself. But they almost always send something I enjoy. And I REALLY love the magazines.

Mia Lester - Parent

Mum to a 12-year-old girl, based in South Australia.

The [Braille House] librarian is so invested in us. It’s really nice to have someone to liaise with. She really customises what is sent to us. When I speak to anyone at Braille Housel it isn’t a generic interaction; I feel like you know me.

Braille House really makes the effort to support us. We home school and we are very cut off and isolated. Braille House fills a gap for us.

Vicki Couzens - Library Patron

Borrowing from Braille House since the 1970s, based in South Australia/

I love Braille House. The customer service is fantastic. I will return a book on a Monday, and the following Monday or Tuesday, I receive my next book. I’m never without at least two books from Braille House.

The people [at Braille House] are always pleasant to deal with. They are really lovely. Braille House is caring; the people are understanding and VERY supportive. I often recommend Braille House to other people because I know the staff will support them.

Hear from those we've Educated

Kaley Schelks - Parent

My daughter had so much fun participating in the Braille Awareness Show at Ipswich Library. She loved finding the letters of her name in braille. It really started a conversation with our family about accessibility for all. My kids now love finding braille in lifts and on signs.

Liz Madden – Dean of Catholic Faith and Mission

The Braille Awareness Shows put on by Braille House have given our Year 11 students deep and meaningful insights into ways a more equitable and just society is created. In particular, Andrew and Grace offered new perspectives on how visually impaired and blind people face and overcome challenges that our school wouldn't have been able to provide otherwise. Our students will leave school with a greater understanding of important issues to the blind community and real, actionable strategies to be more open, compassionate members of society.
Thank you, Braille House!

Megan Johnstone - First 5 Forever Team Leader, Libraries and Customer Services Branch

Ipswich Libraries has engaged the services of Braille House to deliver multiple Braille Awareness Shows for launch events for our Tales and Trails outdoor reading project. Delivered within library branches and external community venues, the Braille House Awareness Show promotes inclusion and helps raise knowledge and awareness of braille and the issues impacting those who are visually impaired. Ipswich Libraries highly recommends this show!

Therese Jansan - Touch Literacy Student

I want to express my gratitude to Braille House for the braille lessons I’ve taken over the last three years. The course is extremely well put together and I have enjoyed learning a new “language.”
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