About Jeni

Hi, I'm Jeni.

I'm the founder of Be Tactile, but before I was a founder, I was a woman learning how to rebuild life when it changed unexpectedly.

Several years ago, I faced sudden health challenges that led to medically retiring at the age of 32 with very few answers. Even now, many of those symptoms remain unexplained. It was a deeply frustrating season filled with uncertainty, exhaustion, and learning how to navigate a new normal I never would have chosen.

Simple things were no longer always simple.
Sounds could become overwhelming.
Energy became unpredictable.
Everyday life required more intention than it once had.

That season changed me.

It taught me compassion for people navigating invisible struggles. It taught me how important accessibility truly is. And it taught me that dignity often lives in the details.

Creativity Became My Rescue

During that difficult season, creating elegant handmade cards became one of the few places I felt calm.

What began as creativity became therapy.
Not even an escape, but a rescue.

For a little while, it was a space that felt normal. A place where my hands could create something beautiful when life around me felt uncertain.

That experience shaped how I see creativity to this day.

I believe creating is not frivolous.
It can be healing.
It can be grounding.
It can bring people back to themselves.

A Moment That Changed My Direction

While sharing my personal story publicly at a community event in Phoenix, I met two individuals connected to a blindness rehabilitation and independent living organization. They moved with confidence and independence in a way that quietly challenged assumptions and reflected what access and training can make possible. Later, I was invited to speak, share my testimony, and guide a simple card-making experience. Before presenting, I explained that overstimulation and sudden sounds could sometimes be difficult for me. They responded with kindness and thoughtful accommodations that allowed me to fully participate. That moment stayed with me. Because accessibility is not special treatment. Accessibility is dignity. Accessibility is wisdom. Accessibility is what allows people to fully show up.
A popup-foldable greeting card that started it all. 7 different flower sizes that greet the recipient when opened with a custom greeting infant. this card is tones of blue.
try-fold air balloon with red and yellow colors with string at the bottom holding the basket. string is yellow and basket is orange
grill card that was the first try to launch Be Tactile
At the Phoenix NFB convention showcasing the Be Tactile program to come in 2023. pieces were available to layout on the card base with pre-assembled cards available. participants lay pieces out to understand layout.

The Need I Could Not Ignore

That day, I asked what existed in the paper crafting world for blind individuals.

The answer was nothing.

No meaningful path to create elegant handmade cards independently.
No tactile-first experience.
No thoughtfully designed program centered on touch.

I went home unable to shake it.

I had shown up to encourage others, but I left changed myself.

When God Redirected My Path

At the time, I believed I was supposed to continue building a different card business. I did not want to start over or build something new while already carrying so much personally.

But the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit stayed with me.

What I wanted to ignore kept returning.

That nudge eventually became the beginning of Be Tactile.

It was built from faith, persistence, and the belief that no one should be left out of beauty or creativity.

The baby’s face is turned toward the woman’s chest. The background of the photo on the screen is warmly lit, with golden, painterly lighting. A table lamp with a soft yellow glow, a framed picture on the wall, and out‑of‑focus flowers are visible, creating a cozy indoor setting.

The Heart Behind Everything I Create

I am also a birth mother, and that part of my story has deeply shaped how I understand love, sacrifice, unseen connection, and the quiet strength people carry every day.

My faith in Jesus Christ has been the foundation beneath every step of this journey.

In seasons where I had no answers, He still had direction.
In seasons that felt broken, He was still building.

Jen is dressed in a sleeveless dress and has a V-shaped neckline. The fabric pattern is made of long, narrow diamond and triangle shapes. Colors in the pattern include white, light gray, darker gray, tan, and black. The overall style is fitted at the top and looks like a smooth, soft material, giving a polished but comfortable appearance. Around her neck are layered necklaces, including one with pearls and another with small beads or links. One arm is bent with a hand on her hip, giving a confident pose.

What I Hope You Feel Here

When you visit Be Tactile, I hope you feel seen.

I hope you feel dignity in the details.

I hope you feel beauty made accessible.

And most of all, I hope you know this:

You deserve to create.
You deserve beauty.
You deserve products designed with you in mind.

Thank you for being here.

Jeni