How Jessica Callahan Is Bringing Braille to Houston Restaurants

Though best known for her work encouraging restaurants to adopt braille menus, Jessica Callahan is also an accomplished musician and braille translator. (Courtesy of Jessica Callahan) Jessica Callahan knows how to get people talking.  Last year, she made headlines after publicly advocating for inclusive dining experiences, asking local restaurants to print menus in braille for blind, low-vision, and visually impaired people. Callahan, who is herself blind, also earned a 2025 Houstonian of the Year nomination for her efforts. But as the founder of A1 Braille—the braille translation service she officially launched last year—her work extends well beyond making sure foodies of all abilities eat well.  “I figured my love for music, as well as my interest in reading, would be a great way to just make the world a little bit more accessible for my fellow blind people out there,” says Callahan. “I want to be a part of making things easier to access for everybody.”  She began working with braill