I can't really comment about the best materials out there. I learned braille in a training center, and we did use books that introduced new letters and symbols, than we would read simple children's books, and than we moved on to normal books. We also used Perkins braille machines, and a slate and Stylus to write the braille ourselves, in order to drill the symbols into our head. Your friend might want to see if there are any local services for the blind they can use; they might be qualified to receive training from the state for free.

As far as poor tactile sensitivity goes, I have known people with similar issues learn braille, but it does make things harder. I would recommend looking for something called a braille block for your friend to use to learn the symbols. Braille blocks are blocks of wood with holes and pegs which can be used to represent large versions of braille symbols. If you can't find something like a braille block that you could always use a milk carton and golf balls, just cut the carton in half so it only has six cups.

Good luck,

There are several "Braille for the sighted" books on Amazon and other sites, as well as braille fridge magnets (letter-shaped, like the ones for kids) and alphabet blocks. And flash cards, too. One method that was suggested to me as a sighted learner was to use a six-cup muffin tin and tennis balls to learn the dot patterns. Once you're ready to graduate to simple reading, there are some kids' books that don't use grade 2, and some on Amazon that are large print and grade 1 Braille. :)

Also, many sighted people learn to read Braille visually, and it can be very difficult to overcome the desire to check visually what you're feeling. But it's neither here nor there whether you learn to recognize it with your eyes or fingers. Just personal preference.

For the record, the book I used is now out of date with modern updates to the Braille system, but the title is Braille In Brief, and it contained both print and braille on opposite pages, in matching lines so you could check. It also came with a teacher's guide that had information about posture, and the importance of moving your fingers while reading. The movement helps to differentiate the shapes under your fingers. I can't read Braille without it- something in the movement is required for my fingers to tell which dots are raised.

What resources do you have access to in terms of how to produce braille, is an embosser available to you? A perkins braille writer, slate and stylus? It may be that jumbo braille may help, that is where the spacing is slightly bigger between the dots within the cell.

As far as guides to teach braille you may look into http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/braille/index.html

http://www.afb.org/info/literacy-instructors/strategies-and-resources-for-teaching-braille-to-adults/35

http://www.perkinselearning.org/videos/webcast/teaching-braille-reading-writing