A Monrovia teen’s vision is changing the way local restaurants operate.

Mason Fessenden is the 17-year-old creator of Clarity Menus and More. He creates braille menus for local restaurants to share with visually-impaired customers like himself.

“It’s given me an opportunity to actually read the menu instead of relying on voices,” said Fessenden.

He started the business earlier this year as a paid work-study project at Temple City High School. Fessenden’s first employee was his 12-year-old brother Logan.

“It’s just really fun. It’s a fun journey,’ said Logan.

Fessenden’s parent’s are amazed by his accomplishment. He was born three months early, and his mother says being on an oxygen machine caused his blindness. 

“We were told he would possibly never walk, he wouldn’t ever be able to talk. He certainly wouldn’t be able to read braille,” said Martha Fessenden.

Now, four of Mason’s braille menus are in the hands of restaurant owners around town. 

“This is just one more thing that we have to offer,” said Rudy Castellon, owner of Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant. “So this is good and makes me feel proud of Mason.”