Located in Livonia, Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by creating and providing high-quality, free, and low-cost braille books for visually impaired children. When founded by Debra Bonde in 1984, braille materials were scarce and expensive. The goal was to increase the availability and lower the cost of braille books that provide children equal opportunity to develop the love of reading. Bonde initially made the books in her basement office. In 1994, Seedlings added The Rose Project, which became a popular resource for students eager to work independently, providing encyclopedia articles in braille. In 2019, Seedlings produced nearly 34,000 braille books and articles. The organization now reaches braille readers in all 50 states and more than 75 countries. Seedlings’ books remain far below actual productions costs, averaging $10 per book due to donors and volunteers. The organization has produced more than 579,000 books since 1984.
