Santa Reads Braille - Any kid could tell you that.

Did it ever occur to you that Santa reads braille?

If it hadn't, that might be because you're not visually impaired, or maybe it's because you're not a kid any more. If you ask a child if they think that Santa Claus can read braille, the answer is so obvious to them it's as if you just asked if he wears a red coat and has a reindeer named Rudolph. So why is this such a foreign concept for many adults? Of course Santa reads braille, he wouldn't forget about all the children who have visual impairments - he's Santa!

I work for a small company in Seffner, Florida that is doing a really cool thing this year to try and prove to kids this idea that they already know to be true. We thought that if we could send kids letters back from Santa, in braille, then it might help those living with visual impairments to know that Santa didn't forget them.

Yes, this is a marketing outreach program, but here's why you should care:

• Helping blind and visually impaired children feel more included at Christmas is an idea that we can all get behind.
• Everyone should be able to feel the magic of Christmas, even if you can't see the same as other people.
• Because why not? At least one year, Santa should write back to these kids! Why not this year, this one time?
• The company is called Braille Works, and their mission is to "Make the World a More Readable Place." How cool is that?
• It's free - Braille Works is paying for the whole thing. They're even including a ruler with braille markings along with the letters, because inclusion in education is also a very important thing.
• And lastly...

"Sometimes it takes more than seeing to believe..."

Get it? More than 'seeing' Eh? Eh? If you couldn't tell, I wrote that bit. I think it's catchy (humble brag). But what I really hope is that it helps remind people (including myself) that we should always be thinking about how to include EVERYONE, in life and in business.

We're Helping Santa Out This Year by Embossing His Letters

Here's what we've been working on at Braille Works,  and it's been pretty fun to think of ourselves as elves helping out Santa Claus. It's also given me a whole new appreciation for parents who work tirelessly to bring the magic of Christmas to life each year, and who rarely get the credit. 

When someone signs up on our website and tells us that their child/family friend/student in their class, would absolutely love to hear back from Santa in a braille letter - we're trying make that happen. That's it, just tell us who it is and where you want the letter sent on our website: Santa Reads Braille, and we'll take care of the rest.

The letter itself was written by one of the company's co-founders, Lou Fioritto, who's been blind since birth. He's one half of the husband and wife duo who created Braille Works almost 22 years ago. The letter mentions how Santa was working away in his toy shop, when he stopped to have a cup of hot cocoa and to write to a very important person. It encourages the child to do well in school, keep trying on tough days and to always remember to smile. These kinds of things might sound generic to you, but when you're growing up with a visual impairment, tough days can be really tough for some. There's more, but to keep it special for the kids I'm going to leave that for them and Santa.

Lou had told me once that when he was growing up, he wished Santa would have written to him - so I tried to encourage him to write the letter that he would have always wanted to get when he was a kid. I might have helped collaborate a little in the letter, only because Lou is a very humble person who shies away from the spotlight. But when it was suggested that we cut the letter short to save on costs, he wouldn't hear of it (you see, a single sheet of written text is sometimes up to three sheets of braille). Something tells me, even if he won't admit to it, I think this is pretty close to the letter he always wanted from Santa when he was a kid... :)

Please share this on your own social media networks! It would mean so much to me to continue the conversation of what parents and loved ones do to help children with disabilities feel included during the holidays. Let's use the #SantaReadsBraille on Facebook and Twitter, but on here maybe just reply in the comments below? Thank you all so much!

Do you know a child who is visually impaired and who would love to hear back from Santa Claus in a braille letter?  If so, help spread the magic this year and go to BrailleWorks.com/Santa-Reads-Braille to sign them up - Because everyone deserves to feel included, especially at Christmas!