Monarch is Making a Difference: Daniel Harris’s Story
About to finish his junior year of high school, Daniel Harris received his Monarch in the fall of 2025. Ever since, his love for school, learning, and all things braille has increased tenfold! We had the chance to talk to Daniel and his mom, Stacie, about how Monarch has made a difference in Daniel’s educational journey.
Daniel has gone through multiple transitions throughout his years of schooling. He started out in public school, but his parents wanted him to spend more time learning and reading braille, so he started attending Mississippi School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB) in middle school. It was here that Daniel had the chance to work on his first refreshable braille display (Chameleon-20), and he got to practice writing in braille more often. While attending MSDB, Daniel had the chance to work with Monarch alongside his braille teacher. When his sophomore year was coming to a close, Daniel and his family had made the decision to switch to homeschooling.
Stacie was daunted at the idea of homeschooling without having different pieces of Assistive Technology (AT), but before Daniel left MSDB, his braille teacher let them know about the Monarch Student Pilot Project (MSPP)—a program that provides students between 1st and 12th grade with a Monarch that they can use both in and out of the classroom. Daniel still qualified for MSPP even as a homeschooler, so he applied and was accepted in fall of 2025.
Now, Daniel is able to be fully immersed in braille as he continues to learn and grow. Where in the past Daniel had to rely on audio or readers to access textbooks, graphics, or math problems, he can now access everything through his Monarch. He is also able to strengthen his geometry skills and braille literacy skills at the same time. Having everything at his fingertips allows Daniel to be more independent in his studies.
For the first time, Daniel is excited about science. Now that he has a textbook with tactile images ready for him to read, he can better comprehend the concepts he is learning about. He can also access the figures right next to the text, making the process of learning more seamless and immersive. Previously, science was a subject that Daniel did not particularly enjoy, but now it is one of his favorites!
Monarch has also given Daniel the chance to work on his computer skills. By using both the auditory feedback and braille on Monarch, Daniel is able to learn more about how computers work, how to check his email, and how to use spell check when writing. He can also look up any question he might have without ever having to switch devices.
Daniel could not speak more highly of his Monarch, saying “I love my Monarch because it has so many cool features that you can use for help.” Daniel’s joy for learning, braille, and school is contagious. He looks forward to starting school each day, and he is motivated to continue improving in all his subjects.
As much of a difference Monarch made on Daniel, it has also made an impact on Stacie. Stacie knew she wanted to support her son as much as she could, and Monarch has made it easier for her to do so. By connecting Monarch to a monitor, she can follow along with Daniel and help him out if he ever gets stuck on something. Now, Stacie and Daniel can work as a team throughout the school day! Stacie explains, “I can’t express our gratitude and love for Monarch. It has allowed Daniel to thrive in his education.”
The Monarch continues to break down barriers and open fields for more blind or low vision students. To learn more about Monarch, visit our Meet Monarch page. To read more stories like Daniel’s, visit some of our blogs linked below!