My Story | One Touch Away

Hello, I’m Deja, the founder of One Touch Away, and I’d love to share the story behind my little business.

I was born blind, and throughout my life I’ve undergone countless operations in the hope of improving my vision. I’ve never been able to fully see my family’s faces, and there are so many things in life that I’ve only ever experienced through touch, sound and the descriptions of others.

But being blind has never stopped me from wanting to experience everything life has to offer.

When I started primary school, I began learning Braille. It quickly became such an important part of my life, giving me the independence to read and write.

However, as I grew older, I began to realise just how difficult it was to access the same things as everyone else.

I remember wanting to sit with my friends and complete word searches, play games and enjoy all the little activities that most children probably wouldn’t think twice about.

But so often, I couldn’t join in.

Not because I didn’t want to, or because I wasn’t capable, but simply because those activities weren’t available to me in Braille.

Even something as simple as choosing a book I genuinely wanted to read could feel impossible. On the rare occasions I managed to find accessible resources, they were often so expensive that getting hold of them wasn’t realistic.

I can’t explain how frustrating it was to constantly come across things that everyone else could enjoy, knowing that I could have enjoyed them too if only they had been made accessible.

I didn’t want special treatment. I didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.

I just wanted the same opportunities as everybody else.

Those experiences have stayed with me throughout my life, and they’re the reason One Touch Away means so much to me today.

I often think about children who are growing up with sight loss now. Children who want to read their favourite stories, complete activities alongside their classmates, play games with their siblings or simply feel included.

I never want a child to feel the disappointment and frustration that I sometimes felt growing up.

And I never want a parent to struggle to find something as simple as an accessible book or game for their child.

That’s why I created One Touch Away.

In 2024, when I was just 19 years old, I began turning an idea I’d carried with me for years into a little business of my own.

It hasn’t happened overnight. I’ve spent countless hours learning, experimenting, making mistakes and gradually building up my range of products.

And there’s something about One Touch Away that I’m incredibly proud of.

Every single product is made by me.

When you order a Braille book from One Touch Away, you’re not receiving something that’s been mass-produced.

You’re receiving a book that I’ve personally Brailled by hand, letter by letter.

Every card, every game and every product has been carefully created by me, with the hope that it will bring someone the happiness and opportunities I wished I’d had as a child.

Some products take hours to complete, but knowing that something I’ve made could help a child read independently, join in with their friends or enjoy an activity with their family makes every minute worthwhile.

I know firsthand how much something so small can mean.

One Touch Away is still growing, and I have so many ideas and dreams for its future.

My hope is that one day, finding affordable Braille resources won’t be something families have to struggle with.

That children with visual impairments won’t have to miss out on activities simply because nobody thought to make them accessible.

And that every child, regardless of their vision, will have the opportunity to experience the joy of reading, learning, playing and being included.

Because no child should ever have to feel left out simply because they cannot see.

One Touch Away isn’t just a business to me. It’s something I’ve built from my own experiences, my passion for Braille and my determination to make things better for the next generation.

And if something I’ve created helps even one child feel included, then everything I’ve put into this little business will have been worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting something that means so much to me.

With love,

Deja

Founder of One Touch Away