She was a high school student when she lost sight in one eye; despite attempts at surgical intervention, her glaucoma advanced, and by 1953 she was completely blind.
She learned to use braille, to type, and to speak English at a training school in Yokohama.
In 1962, Sasaki traveled to England to work with Guide Dogs for the Blind at their training centre in Leamington.
[4][5] In 1965, Sasaki met with Princess Alexandra, patron of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Britain, at the British Trade Exhibition in Tokyo.
[6] In 1966 and 1967, Sasaki and Roberta traveled to the United States to study at Perkins School for the Blind in Boston.