20 States, Countless Aha! Moments: The Dot Pad X American Tour Recap

What happens when you take the world’s most versatile multiline Braille and tactile graphics display and put it in the hands of the people who need it most? You spark a revolution.

From September through November, the Dot Inc. team, along with our partners, embarked on a whirlwind tour of the United States. We visited over 20 different states, covering ground from the Northeast to the Southwest and everywhere in between. Our mission was to explore the possibilities of the Dot Pad X with the teachers, students, professionals, and advocates who are shaping the future of blindness and low vision.

From the energy of exhibit halls to the quiet focus of classrooms, here is a look back at the journey.

Sparking Conversation on the Conference Circuit We kicked off the season at major industry events, demonstrating that the Dot Pad X is ready for the real world.

• Viva La Vida (Texas): We debut the Dot Pad X’s fall tour with Christal Vision to celebrate independence and technology in the Lone Star State by showcasing how tactile maps of the conference area enhances independence.
• Closing the Gap (Minneapolis): We shared our vision for revolutionizing literacy, showing educators how easily tactile graphics can be integrated into any curriculum to enhance Braille fluency.
• New York Public Library Assistive Technology Expo (New York City) - Dot inc. leadership, Ki, Alison, and Dave championed how the Dot Pad X makes accessing text and tactile graphics a breeze through Dot Canvas to Kindle on iOS with VoiceOver.
• American Printing House for the Blind Leadership Conference (Louisville) - Dot Inc.’s partnership with APH was on full display as we joined forces highlighting the importance of refreshable multiline Braille and tactile graphics.
• Washington Council of the Blind (Seattle): We had some spooky fun showcasing Halloween-themed tactile graphics, like ghosts, jack-o-latterns, and bats, proving that accessibility can be engaging, creative, and multimodal.
• Getting in Touch with Literacy (Huntsville): We connected with the literacy champions who understand that Braille is the bedrock of education alongside our partners with Palmer Vision, Ability to Access, and Mountain View Low Vision.
• Northeast & New York AER: We dove deep into the research and pedagogical side of tactile learning with professionals in Rhode Island and New York, along with testing out Dancing Dot’s excellent methods to bring access to digital music in realtime.
• Perkins School for the Blind (Watertown) - A major highlight was watching teachers and students create and engage with tactile graphics in realtime, while Minh Ha explored multiline Braille through JAWSand playing immersive full-display Sudoku during "Dot Pad X Day of Learning.
• VRATE (Phoenix): At the event, we showcased an exhibit area filled with individuals receiving training from Arizona Rehab Services Administration (SAAVI), our newest distributor, Digital Apex, and TVI and AT professionals. We delved into the topic of how connecting the Dot Pad X with JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver enhances the reading experience for the blind.
• Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (St Augustine) - With Florida Vision Technologies At the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, we discussed the importance of a modular approach—pairing the Dot Pad X with JAWS to prepare students for the workforce.

Professional Growth & Rehabilitation The tour wasn't just for schools. At the West Palm Beach VA BRC, we explored using the Dot Pad X to create dynamic orientation and mobility maps for Veterans.

At the Conklin Davis Center, we identified a brilliant use case: using the display to teach future CATIS professionals what visual icons look like, bridging the gap between blind instructors and sighted clients.

A Nationwide Effort: We visited schools, Lighthouses, state agencies, and consumer groups in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Washington, California, Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Louisiana, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Connecticut.

None of this would have been possible without our incredible nationwide network of distributors who hosted us, drove us, and championed this technology:

• The AT Guys
• Florida Vision Technology
• Alpha Sensory
• Sterling Adaptives
• LS&S
• Ability to Access
• Leading Edge Vision
• Christal Vision
• Palmer Vision
• Digital Apex
• Nanopak
• Woodlake Technologies
• Magnifiers & More
• Mountain View Low Vision

As we look back on these last few months, we are more motivated than ever. The Dot Pad X is not just a device; it is a tool for independence, education, and employment. Thank you to everyone who hosted us, challenged us, and dreamed big with us.