Braille Institute

Name

Braille Institute

Legal name

Braille Institute of America, Inc.

Website

https://brailleinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation and Disability Services

NAICS

Other Schools and Instruction (6116), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD), Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics) (EDAGAMAD), Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) & Format Conversion (Braille, Large Print, DAISY) (EDAKAIAH), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH), Low Vision & Assistive Vision Devices (Magnifiers, Electronic Video Magnifiers, Wearable Vision Aids) (HLAHAJAN), Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive technology training
• Braille literacy education
• Accessible library services
• Orientation and mobility training

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Braille Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on generous donors to fund all operations. The organization conducts annual fund drives and receives donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.
2. Grant Funding: Braille Institute receives grant funding from government entities and private foundations. Recent example: Desert Healthcare District and Foundation awarded $45,000 grant for low-vision services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Braille Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free programs, classes, and services for people with low vision to no vision. Core offerings include low vision rehabilitation consultations, orientation and mobility instruction, assistive technology training, braille literacy instruction, youth and child development services, and a National Library Service branch library with 120,000+ digital and 32,000+ paper braille titles. The organization also distributes the free Atkinson Hyperlegible typeface for accessible reading.

Product overview

Braille Institute of America is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of free life-changing services, classes, and programs for people with low vision to no vision. The organization operates a single integrated platform of services rather than a modular software product. The core offerings span multiple service lines: Low Vision Rehabilitation Consultation (occupational therapy evaluation and custom planning with magnification devices), Orientation & Mobility Consultation (one-on-one navigation training including white cane and guide dog instruction), Assistive Technology (training on mainstream and adaptive devices including iPhones, iPads, Android, CCTVs, Victor Reader Streams, Zoomtext Fusion, BARD Stations, and Braille Refreshable Displays), Braille Instruction (reading and writing instruction for all ages including Braille Boot Camp workshops), Youth Services (ages 7-18 via the Expanded Core Curriculum, hosting the national Braille Challenge and Cane Quest programs), Child Development Services (birth to age 6 early intervention), Braille Institute Library (over 120,000 digital and 32,000+ paper braille books as an NLS branch library, including the Telephone Reader Program and Dots for Tots children's kits), and over 221 additional Classes and Workshops covering art, music, health, life skills, technology, and support groups in English and Spanish. The organization also provides the free Atkinson Hyperlegible Font for download and operates the annual Adult Summer Reading Program for the National Library Service network. Braille Institute serves from seven Southern California locations and online, with 7 regional centers, 66 Braille Challenge regional events across 6 countries, and volunteers providing 40,000 hours annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Braille Publishing: Braille publishing division that develops and markets press capabilities to a wider client base, including recording services and digital formats.
• Braille Challenge
• Connection Pointe
• Vistas

Products and services

• Low Vision Rehabilitation Consultation Occupational therapy evaluation and custom planning for adults whose vision affects daily task performance, including assessment of abilities and vision impairment, recommendation of magnification devices, techniques for task completion, and navigation training. Available free with a doctor referral.
• Orientation & Mobility Consultation One-on-one specialist consultations teaching navigation skills for independent travel, including human guide techniques, door navigation, seating, stair traversal, and instruction in white cane or guide dog use for individuals with vision loss.
• Assistive Technology Training One-on-one instruction service for mainstream and adaptive technology devices including Android phones, iPads, iPhones, Apple Watch, Kindles, CCTVs, Victor Reader Streams, Zoomtext Fusion, BARD Stations, and Braille Refreshable Displays, delivered by Assistive Technology Specialists (many of whom are visually impaired).
• Braille Instruction Braille reading and writing instruction for adults, youth, and children, including Braille Boot Camp accelerated workshops for parents and educators, progressive coursework from Grade 1 to advanced levels, and Spanish-language Braille instruction.
• Youth Services Program for school-age youth ages 7-18 developing independence through self-advocacy, determination, and peer support using the Expanded Core Curriculum, including the national Braille Challenge and Cane Quest programs, plus virtual and in-person sessions with families and educators.
• Child Development Services Early intervention services for children birth to age 6 and their families, including home visits, medical visit accompaniment, community resource connection, infant and preschool program consultation, and social experience exploration.
• Braille Institute Library National Library Service network branch library offering 120,000+ digital titles and 32,000+ paper braille books, including the Telephone Reader Program, e-Readers, recording studio, Dots for Tots children's braille kits, book clubs, and summer reading programs.
• Classes and Workshops More than 221 in-person and online course offerings covering art, music, health and wellness, life skills, technology, and support groups, available in English and Spanish, with subjects including cooking, ceramics, mosaic, quilting, printmaking, yoga, dance, keyboarding, and adaptive beauty techniques.
• Support Groups Therapeutic and non-therapeutic support groups for individuals adjusting to vision loss, including the Newcomer Support Group Series covering vision loss and identity, communicating with loved ones, building resiliency, and community resources. Available in English and Spanish.
• Atkinson Hyperlegible Font Free accessible typeface designed specifically to help people with low vision read more easily by using distinctive letterforms. Developed by Braille Institute and named after founder J. Robert Atkinson; available as a free download from brailleinstitute.org/freefont.
• Braille Challenge The only academic competition of its kind for students in grades 1-12 who are blind or visually impaired, testing reading comprehension, spelling, speed, accuracy, proofreading, and tactile chart and graph interpretation. Includes regional events, state rounds, and annual finals hosted at the University of Southern California.
• Cane Quest National youth program designed by Braille Institute to help students foster confidence and independence with orientation and mobility, providing an introduction to travel and navigation skills for visually impaired youth.
• Connection Pointe Technology lab at the Los Angeles center assisting visually impaired students with utilizing technology through hands-on training with devices and software.
• Vistas Store Student shops at Braille Institute where visually impaired individuals can learn skills and purchase accessible products, offering skills development alongside accessible product offerings.
• Braille Boot Camp Free one-day accelerated workshop for parents of children with visual impairments, early intervention providers, teachers, and friends or family of braille readers, teaching uncontracted Grade 1 braille in an introductory and supportive setting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of Braille Challenge alumni pursue 4-year university education
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• WaymocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 20262026 Community Hero Award recipient recognized for advancing autonomous ride accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired.
• University of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Annual host venue for Braille Challenge Finals. 2026 event held June 25-28 at USC campus in Los Angeles, marking the largest expansion in competition history with participants from six countries.
• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of CongressflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Braille Institute Library selected to curate and host the 2026 Adult Summer Reading Program titled 'Unearth a Story' - a nationwide nine-week literary experience featuring five live virtual author conversations and immersive soundscapes. First time Braille Institute Library has been selected to curate the national Adult Summer Reading Program for the NLS network.
• Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually ImpairedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Partnership to launch Kenya Regional Braille Challenge, the first official Braille Challenge competition on the African continent. Clovernook has worked in Kenya for years providing tactile and 3D educational materials. Approximately 700 students across four schools in Kenya will participate, supported by over 60 educators and 100 volunteers.
• Sony ElectronicscoreTechnology or Integration · 9 March 2026Partnership to develop accessible retail display kiosks with audio description capabilities. Audio description-enabled units now installed across 925 Best Buy stores in the United States, making products accessible to blind and visually impaired customers.
• Glaucoma Research FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 March 2026Partnership to record Spanish audiobook version of 'Understanding and Living with Glaucoma' booklet in partnership with Braille Institute to ensure accessibility for Spanish-speaking patients.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB):

Direct peers

• Lighthouse for the Blind (Seattle): A comparable Pacific Northwest non-profit serving blind and visually impaired individuals through rehabilitation, training, and employment programs. Recently led by George Abbott (now on Braille Institute's board) at a $95M, 425+ employee scale, making it a closely comparable organizational peer.
• Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired: A non-profit providing education, rehabilitation, and braille publishing services to the blind. Current strategic partner on the Kenya Regional Braille Challenge, indicating direct operational overlap with Braille Institute.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic U.S. non-profit serving blind and deafblind individuals through education, rehabilitation, and international programs. Comparable mission around youth services, braille literacy, and assistive technology training.
• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS): Library of Congress program that distributes braille and audio books to eligible patrons; Braille Institute's Library is an NLS branch. Direct institutional peer on accessible library services and braille publishing.
• Learning Ally: U.S. non-profit providing audiobooks and accessible educational content to people with print disabilities including visual impairment. Overlaps directly with Braille Institute's library and accessible content programs.
• Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Non-profit providing distance-education and Braille/assistive-tech training to blind adults. Direct overlap in adult-focused braille literacy, assistive technology, and online class delivery.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind: Non-profit providing guide dog training and orientation & mobility services for the blind. Overlaps with Braille Institute's orientation & mobility consultation services and youth Cane Quest program.

Regional players

• Vision Australia: Leading Australian non-profit providing blindness and low-vision services. Operates a comparable service mix (rehabilitation, assistive tech, library, advocacy) but in Australia rather than the U.S.
• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): Canada's primary blindness-services non-profit, offering rehabilitation, assistive technology, and advocacy. Comparable service-line breadth but serves Canadian geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brailleinst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BrailleInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/brailleinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brailleinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/brailleinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Braille Institute