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I just Love This. And, It's Fun, Too!

Alex and Patty.
I wish I would have had something like this when I started learning braille 25 years ago.

For Patty Williamson, learning and transcribing braille has been a labor of love. Another thing the Greensboro, NC woman loves is the new Hadley website.

Patty first learned braille when her youngest son, Alex, came home from first grade and was having trouble with his homework. Born blind, Alex turned 33 on June 5 and, thanks in large part to his mom, is a fluent reader of braille.

For Patty, learning braille to help Alex with his homework was the first step in what has now been a 24-year journey that has led her to working for the Guilford County School Systems Braille Transcribing Department.

“When Alex needed help, I learned the braille alphabet and numbers, became intrigued by braille code, and fell in love,” recalled Patty. “I started volunteering in his class, transcribing books and putting print over braille for other parents. I applied for a job shortly thereafter and have been working for the school system ever since.”

Hadley asked Patty to review our new website and her reaction echoes what we’ve heard from many. “I loved the website and thought it was so easy to navigate,” she said. “I’m going to recommend it to my colleagues, so they can pass the word. I recall how I felt when I couldn’t help my son with his homework, so the website can be a real game changer for others who face the same challenge.”

Although Alex received three bachelor’s degrees, Patty wishes her son had today’s technology when he was in school. She says, “I wish I would have had something like this when I started learning braille 25 years ago.

I just love this. And, it’s fun, too!”

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Try out the new braille workshops for visual learners here.