When accessibility shows up in unexpected places, it can change the conversation entirely. That’s the thinking behind Braille Nails, a national initiative that brings braille into nail salons through a partnership between the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and THE TEN SPOT beauty bars.
In this Q&A, Angela Bonfanti, CEO of CNIB, shares why the beauty services sector proved such a powerful platform, what Braille Nails signals for product and packaging design, and how industry stakeholders can play a more active role in advancing braille literacy and accessible experiences at scale.
CDU: From CNIB’s perspective, what made the beauty services sector, and specifically the partnership with THE TEN SPOT, a compelling platform to advance braille literacy awareness and fundraising at a national level?
Angela Bonfanti: For us, this was about meeting people where they are and challenging assumptions in a way that feels human. One of the core pillars of our strategic plan, “The Way Forward”, is called “Attitude Is Everything”.
That reflects a simple truth. Many of the biggest barriers people with sight loss face are not physical barriers, but attitudinal ones. And the most effective way to break those down is by building understanding and empathy.
Nail salons are social spaces. They are places where people gather, talk, and notice details. When someone sees braille on a manicure, it naturally sparks a question.
That moment of curiosity is powerful. It opens the door to awareness and understanding in a way that feels accessible and real.
THE TEN SPOT understood that immediately. They saw that this wasn’t just about a design. It was about using their platform to help people understand why braille literacy still matters.
With locations across the country, this partnership allows that conversation to happen far beyond one room or one city. That kind of reach is critical when we’re talking about a systemic issue like access to literacy.
CDU: Braille Nails brings tactile literacy into a highly visual industry. How does this initiative help reframe accessibility and inclusion for beauty brands, salons, and product developers that may not traditionally engage with braille or tactile design?
Angela Bonfanti: Braille Nails shows that accessibility belongs in every industry, including ones that are traditionally very visual. It challenges the assumption that tactile design is too complex or out of place in spaces like beauty.
What we want brands to take away is that accessibility doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or unreachable goal. It can start with small, thoughtful choices that fit naturally into the experiences they already offer.
Think about a customer standing at a beauty counter trying to identify a product independently, or someone in a salon wanting to feel confident navigating the space without having to ask for help.
Small design decisions, like tactile cues or braille, can change that experience entirely. They signal that someone has been considered from the start, not accommodated as an afterthought.
For the more than two million Canadians who are blind or have low vision, and the more than eight million Canadians with a disability, those signals matter. They communicate respect, belonging, and intention. And from a business perspective, inclusion builds trust and loyalty.
Accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s a smart business decision that reflects the communities brands already serve.
CDU: For manufacturers and suppliers watching this collaboration, what lessons can be drawn about embedding social impact initiatives into everyday beauty experiences without compromising operational efficiency or brand identity?
Angela Bonfanti: The lesson here is that accessibility isn’t a trade-off. It’s not something you add at the expense of your brand. When it’s done well, it strengthens who you are.
This partnership works because it’s rooted in shared values. THE TEN SPOT didn’t try to bolt accessibility onto their business. They embraced it in a way that feels authentic to how they already show up. That’s what meaningful impact looks like. It’s not performative. It’s intentional.
When brands lead with purpose and partner with organizations that bring lived experience and expertise, accessibility becomes part of your identity, not a departure from it.
CDU: Declining braille literacy rates are a key concern. How can partnerships with consumer-facing industries like beauty help address systemic gaps in access to braille education, particularly for children and young adults?
Angela Bonfanti: We would never ask a sighted child to learn to read using only audio or technology. We know that reading requires books, print, and multiple ways to engage with language. And yet, for children who are blind or have low vision, that lower standard is often accepted.
That’s not okay.
Audio matters. Technology matters. But braille is literacy. And literacy is foundational to confidence, independence, and opportunity.
Partnerships like this help reinforce that truth. They raise awareness, generate funding, and most importantly, challenge the idea that braille is optional or outdated.
For children, young people and adults who use it, access to braille is quite simply access to literacy, a fundamental human right. It’s about equity and the right to learn on equal footing.
CDU: Beyond fundraising, what role do you see the beauty and personal care industry playing in advancing accessible packaging, tactile labelling, or inclusive retail experiences? Where could suppliers have the greatest immediate impact?
Angela Bonfanti: The beauty and personal care industry has enormous influence over how people experience products and spaces. Small design choices can either create barriers or remove them, and that’s where this industry has real power to lead.
Accessible packaging, tactile labelling, and inclusive retail design are not future goals. They are achievable right now. Where suppliers can have the greatest immediate impact is by moving away from assumptions and toward listening. When brands engage people with lived experience early and often, accessibility becomes more intuitive, more effective, and more sustainable.
This is ultimately about dignity. It’s about being able to shop, choose, and participate independently, like anyone else. And brands don’t have to figure this out on their own.
CNIB offers practical accessibility resources, and through CNIB Access Labs, we work directly with businesses to test, design, and improve products and experiences alongside people with disabilities. That kind of collaboration helps remove barriers and sets a higher, more inclusive standard across the industry.
CDU: Looking ahead, how does CNIB envision scaling or evolving cross-industry collaborations like Braille Nails, and what types of beauty brands, manufacturers, or suppliers are best positioned to partner with CNIB in future accessibility-focused initiatives?
Angela Bonfanti: When we think about scaling collaborations like Braille Nails, we think first about building a strong community of partners and allies. CNIB cannot do this work alone, and meaningful progress on accessibility only happens when organizations work together, learn from one another, and share responsibility.
The collaborations that matter most to us are those rooted in long-term commitment, not one-off moments. We’re looking to work with beauty brands, manufacturers, and suppliers who understand that accessibility is a shared effort.
Partners who are willing to listen to people with lived experience, ask hard questions, and build accessibility into their products and experiences from the start.
When organizations come together with that mindset, the impact goes far beyond a single campaign. It helps shift expectations across industries and creates more inclusive experiences for the millions of Canadians with disabilities who interact with these brands every day.
That collective effort is how real, lasting change happens.
