A Tactile-First Approach at The Dot Experience

When you walk into a museum, what is the first thing you notice? Many answers involve artifacts or exhibits that catch the eye. For guests who are blind or low vision, sight might not be an option. Often, they experience the world through touch. At The Dot Experience, we believe that a tactile-first approach can amplify every encounter. In our gallery, everyone is invited to explore three textured, life-size statues: Buddy, the first Seeing Eye dog; Louis Braille, inventor of the braille code; and Helen Keller, a DeafBlind advocate who changed the world. Through touch, visitors can connect with historical figures in a deeply meaningful way.

Holding Buddy’s Harness

What was it like to hold the harness of the first Seeing Eye dog? At The Dot Experience, that pivotal moment of independence Morris Frank felt as he worked Buddy is right beneath guests’ fingertips.

The life-size statue captures Buddy seated patiently in her harness, ready for her next journey. Her ears stand alert, her head tilts gently to one side, and the texture of her coat imitates the look and feel of soft fur. The harness wraps securely around her body, with its handle extending upward—a simple, yet powerful reminder of the partnership between guide dog and handler. Buddy’s calm, attentive posture reflects the trust, intelligence, and loyalty that continue to define guide dogs today. Visitors may feel a statue, but they will also encounter the beginning of a movement that continues to change lives around the world.

Experiencing the World of Louis Braille

Braille, the six-dot code that people who are blind or low vision use to read and write, was invented by a teenager, and now, visitors can go back in time and understand what this innovator looked like. The statue portrays Louis as a young man, standing with his eyes closed and a peaceful expression. A book rests beneath his left arm, while his right hand holds the handle of a curved cane. Visitors can run their hands along Louis’s carefully recreated clothing, which reflects the fashions of early nineteenth century France. Louis wears a double-breasted coat, waistcoat, cravat, trousers, and lace-up shoes. Through Louis, everyone learns about the time an adolescent with a great idea impacted the world.

Stepping into Helen’s Office

At The Dot Experience, everyone can interact with an iconic figure in their natural environment: Helen Keller seated at her real desk.

Helen perches behind a replica of her Pyke Glauser brailler, her fingers lifted in mid-keystroke as though she is actively writing. This detail was inspired by photographs of Helen working from her home during the 1950s, where her hands were almost always captured in motion rather than resting on the keyboard. Visitors can touch her textured dress and three-strand pearl necklace, clothing frequently seen in pictures. From her wrinkles to her gentle smile to her softly waved hair gathered into a low bun, guests who are blind or low vision will gain an understanding of the likeness of Helen Keller.

Surrounding the statue are tactile items that tell an even richer story. An original 1947 Remington Rand Noiseless No. 10 typewriter—the same one Helen owned—offers a glimpse into another way she communicated with the world. Guests will also explore tactile replicas of several objects that appeared on Helen’s desk. Among them are reproductions of busts of Dolores Ibárruri, Tashiro Furukawa, and Matsuo Basho. These objects immerse visitors in the people and ideas that surrounded Helen throughout her life.

As you explore The Dot Experience this fall, we hope you’ll take a moment to pause with each of these remarkable figures and remember that history isn’t just something we see or even read about—it is something we can experience through touch. The education team also invites students to participate in our tactile-based programs. From creating personal terrariums based on items found in ecosystem-inspired sensory bins or contributing to community murals like the one being designed for our factory tour, we have found ways for everyone to learn and enjoy the world through touch.

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