IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Mother invents braille patches to give her visually impaired child independence

One mother is determined to help her son live independently.

When her son was diagnosed with a rare condition that causes serious visual impairment, Gracie Benedith-Cane says she was devastated.

"What's going to become of his future?" she recalls wondering. Now she looks at 12-year-old Wani and sees a boy who is confident, warm-hearted and smart. And she sees a world of possibility for his future.

"Before Wani came along, I didn't know anything about blind and visually impaired people," said Gracie Benedith-Cane.
"Before Wani came along, I didn't know anything about blind and visually impaired people," said Gracie Benedith-Cane.TODAY

Before he was a year old, Wani was diagnosed with septo-optic nerve dysplasia, a rare congenital malformation syndrome that affects the optic nerve, pituitary gland and other parts of the body. The diagnosis means that Wani can see just a little out of the corners of his eyes, and is significantly visually impaired.

“I realized something was going on with his eyes when he was two months,” she said, “I took him to the doctor, and he told me that he wasn’t going to have 100 percent of his vision.”

Benedith-Cane's first reaction was fear. “What is his future going to be like? How is he going to make it in the sighted world?” said Benedith-Cane.

"What I will tell the world is that I would love the sighted world to help-- help us adapt. You know, come into our world and understand more what our life is like, you know?, said Gracie Benedith-Cane
"What I will tell the world is that I would love the sighted world to help-- help us adapt. You know, come into our world and understand more what our life is like, you know?, said Gracie Benedith-CaneTODAY

Today, the mother of three has made it her mission to create a world in which her son can function independently.

When Wani became old enough to dress himself in the morning, they realize he struggled to do so without asking for help. As a solution, Benedith-Cane started making braille patches for her son's clothing.

Braille patches allow Wani to dress himself without having to ask for assistance from family members.
Braille patches allow Wani to dress himself without having to ask for assistance from family members.TODAY

“The patches, they're adhesive and you could stick them to clothes. And it has directional cues such as back, left, and right,” said Wani. “if the Braille's on the inside that means it's inside-out and if it's on the outside, then it means it's fine.”

Benedith-Cane has since started her own company, Braille Code Inc. where she sells the patches so that others can benefit from the innovation as well.

"This is what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to make Braille on clothes for kids," said Gracie Benedith-Cane.
"This is what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to make Braille on clothes for kids," said Gracie Benedith-Cane.TODAY

Wani said he will not be discouraged by obstacles ahead.

When asked about it, he said, “I want sighted people to know that blind and visually impaired people can do great things."