Dotty About Braille was founded in May 2023 by me, Hayley Kellard, a disabled entrepreneur based in Greater Manchester.

After finding myself between businesses, I started looking for a part-time job, and came across one with the RNIB that required braille. I’d learned some at school and had grown up around it (my mum is an avid braille reader), but I couldn’t remember much. With six weeks before the job closed, I set myself the challenge of relearning both Grade One and Grade Two braille.

I didn’t get the job, but I did discover a real passion for braille, just like my mum.

Being a typical entrepreneur, I started thinking about how to turn that passion into a business. I’d always been aware of how limited braille greetings cards were, often old-fashioned, overpriced or not fully accessible.

So I created a unique range of fully accessible braille cards: no images, no patterns, no printed text, just braille. They’re available in a variety of colours (because yes, blind people often have a favourite colour!), and the colour is typed on the back for accessibility.

I can print braille in any language with an official braille code and have already produced cards in English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, French and Polish.

Since launching, I’ve completed an Advanced Grade Two (contracted) Braille course, a challenging but incredibly rewarding achievement, which I’m proud to say I passed with flying colours.