An Arkansas high school student is making dining out more accessible for those with vision impairments through a project called Braille Bites.
Evan Pratt, who is legally blind, launched the initiative after being approached by a facilitator with the Education Accelerated by Service and Technology (EAST) program about creating braille menus for local restaurants.
“With the menus, I do put the nutritional facts, the calories, things like that,” Pratt said.
Pratt was diagnosed with ocular albinism and congenital nystagmus, conditions that affect his vision and will eventually lead to total blindness. He said learning braille became a necessity, and the project grew from there.
“The purpose was to give those who are blind and low vision more of an independent way of trying to order food,” Pratt said.
Since starting the initiative, Pratt has partnered with 53 restaurants across the state, including locations such as Wendy’s on Cantrell, Oyster Bar and several Pizza Hut restaurants.
“This is my project. I love it,” Pratt said.
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