Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Helped Blind Child Become Braille Literate

We are back with the show. A lot of Dolly's impact on our lives has gone well beyond her music. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was launched in 1995. Since then, they have literally given away nearly 200 million books. That's incredible. And in fact, one in 10 children in the US under the age of five is currently receiving a book from Dolly. Liz, in our audience, is someone who was impacted by the Imagination Library. So Liz, you have something you want to share with Dolly, right? Dolly, you don't know us, but my husband and I live in North Florida, and over the years of our marriage, we have provided housing and helps to dozens and dozens of vulnerable women and children. Good for you. A little over six years ago, a very special baby came into our lives. She was medically fragile, diagnosed with septo-optic dysplasia, and we knew right away that she was blind. Later, her pediatrician would tell us that they didn't think she would make it. And for the longest time, we weren't sure that she was going to walk and talk. But then one day, when she was about eight months old, she was sitting in her Aunt Tay Tay's lap, and Marvin Gaye's song, What's Going On, came on the radio, and she began humming it perfectly in tune. And I thought, oh, there's just a whole lot more going on than they're telling us. Marvin Gaye with the taste. Yay, she's got grace. It's a first song, dang. That's incredible. That's great. Something else happened around then though, right? Around that time, we began receiving braille books from the Imagination Library. So our daughter was exposed to pre-braille and braille, and that is so important. I don't know if you're aware of it, but only about 10% of blind children have the opportunity to be braille literate. Wow. Today, our daughter is six years old. She's in the first grade at Rideout Elementary School in Clay County, Florida. She was reading and writing braille before most children read and write print. And her teachers tell us she may be gifted. But the story, the big story of it is once that language all started coming together and her exposure, she was spinning on her little sit-and-spin one day and singing like she does all the time. And she started singing Amazing Grace. When she got to that part, and I was blind, but now I see, I thought, my daughter does see. She's going to see the world through the love and the generosity of people like you, Dolly, who stand in all those gaps that we have. Our family is so grateful for you. Oh, what a sweet, wonderful story. My goodness. Is that not touchy? Well, see, that's what makes it all worthwhile to hear those stories, to think that a little child, you know, the Imagination Library, that we have that in braille. You just don't know, you do not know. You do not know, but thank God for that child and for you coming here today to share that with us. That makes me feel great. And I know my dad would be proud. Well, we have a special surprise. Rosie is actually here and we're gonna bring her out. Come on out, Rosie. Wow. Hey, Rosie. Hello. You wanna meet Dolly? She's right there. I'm Dolly. I'm the book lady. You remember me? Yes. Well, I'm so proud of you. You are so beautiful. Can I give you a hug? Yeah, Kelly. I'm Kelly. What's up? I'm giving a hug. This is Kelly's show. You wanna come sit down with us? Yes. Okay, with you. I got your hand. How about you sing me a song? Oh. How about you? How about we sing something together? I hear you like Amazing Grace. Is that a good one? You like that one? Yes. You wanna start us? We'll sing with you. No, you sing it for me. Oh, I love it. You know what? I love a person that knows what they want. That's what I love. There you go, Kelly. Yeah, and I'll sing with her. You wanna start it? ♪ Amazing grace, how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ That saved a wretch like me ♪ ♪ I once was lost, but now I'm found ♪ ♪ Was blind, but now I see ♪ Now you sing one. Sing with us. You wanna sing? How about I sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight? Do that one. Okay, do that one. I love that song. All righty. ♪ In the jungle, the mighty jungle ♪ ♪ The lion sleeps tonight ♪ ♪ Mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight ♪ Everybody. And then it goes. ♪ Oh wee ♪ I love that song. ♪ Oh wee ♪ You are so special. Yeah. Great job, Rosie. Thank you. She's throwing it all around over there.