“There is a wonder in reading Braille that the sighted will never know: to touch words and have them touch you back.”--Jim Fiebig

Learning to read and write braille are essential skills for any visually impaired person to learn and braille remains an important skill which I use on a daily basis. Throughout grade school, and now in college, I use braille every day to read, write and communicate quickly and efficiently. It was no different when I began my summer internship in Boston.

For the past few months, I have worked as a public relations intern at O’Neill and Associates (O&A). O&A is a Boston-based public affairs consulting firm that I became familiar with while volunteering as a National Braille Press spokesperson on numerous occasions. Writing  press releases, compiling lists of media contacts and taking notes on client meetings and conference calls are all part of my duties as an O&A intern.

My refreshable braille device, which I use to take notes in meetings or on client calls, functions like a laptop for me. I use the computer to write press releases and compose media lists. My refreshable braille display and the text-to-speech screen reading computer software, JAWS, are indispensable tools for me to successfully complete my intern responsibilities.

I not only use braille at my internship, but also as a college student. At school, I am learning to play the flute and am teaching myself the braille music code so I can learn pieces quickly and capably. I use braille to read books and edit papers as well.

I am very fortunate that from an early age my family and teachers encouraged me to read and write braille. If a person is literate more opportunities are open to them. For this reason, it is important for visually impaired people to have the opportunity to learn braille. Organizations such as National Braille Press make this idea a reality by publishing accessible braille materials for the blindness community. Every day, I realize more and more that braille has become an integral part of my life which I do not take for granted and could not live without