Prior to my blindness in 1988 due to a medical accident, I never realized how important the sense of touch truly is and what a truly important and vital role it plays in our lives.
Touch has become my eyes to me. I can read braille, and it is by touch. Unfortunately braille is not as vital in this society due to the electronic age, and there is an NLS paucity of braille magazines, which is unfortunate. I obtain literacy through braille — spelling and sentence structure — and feel independent to do my own reading.
By touching objects, I can identify them and even feel a close relationship with them. This is also true in doing household chores. Even by a touch of the hand of another I can sense their feelings of optimism, and even their acceptance of me as a blind person.
Touching is a vital part of life, and nobody should ever take it for granted.
— Cynthia Groopman