The Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation plays a significant role in putting braille writers into the hands of visually impaired students and adults. A braille writer is a device (similar in concept to a typewriter) that allows students to produce braille. Rather than printing ink, braille writers emboss raised braille dots on special heavyweight paper.
Braille writers are considered to be essential communication devices for people who are blind or visually impaired – much like pen and paper are for the sighted. They are expensive at $750 per machine which makes the loan program so valuable. The charitable foundation has provided over 600 braille writers to students and adults throughout the state.