[Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

Tue Aug 4 05:46:11 UTC 2015

I Absolutely agree with you!  I think that reading Braille is a true gift, 
and it makes me feel very sad to think that so many blind children have not 
been given this wonderful gift.  I also think that it is a tool that does 
sincerely empower blind folks.  This may seem to be a rather controversial 
statement, but I think that if a blind person, who has never been able to 
read print, does not learn to read Braille, a part of themselves will 
secretly feel as if they are illiterate.  In a very sad way, it is true.  As 
a youngster I can not pretend that I was greatly motivated to learn Braille. 
But now I am so happy that I had learned!  It is a great feeling to know 
that if I want to, I can independently read, without having to be dependent 
upon another person or technology to read for me.

And I have a huge advantage over my sighted counterparts.  I can read in bed 
at night, without having to turn on a light and awakening my sighted wife! 
LOLL

James

-----Original Message----- 
From: Brl2014! via blindtlk
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 11:34 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Brl2014!
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

I feel empowered by learning braille. I don't have to rely on a charger and 
the power grid to read. As an adult I'm finally learning it because visually 
impaired kids weren't taught it in the 70s and 80s. I think it's more like 
being sighted to read braille. Then again maybe I'm just crazy too.

Ericka
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 3, 2015, at 3:28 PM, James Kelm via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> 
> wrote:
>
> Dear Mike,
>
>   I agree with you, but aren't people in general just so fickled?  LOLL 
> One of my sope box issues is how many younger folks ignore Braille, just 
> because JAWS will read things to them.  I absolutely adore technology, and 
> am a huge fan of JAWS and similar programs.  But there is something 
> special about sitting in the living room with soft music playing, and 
> actually reading an actual book.  But then maybe I am just showing my age, 
> and I am really just an old curmudgeon!
>
> James
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Mike Freeman via blindtlk
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 3:10 PM
> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> Cc: Mike Freeman
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...
>
> James:
>
> I'm not Steve but I can't resist; I assure you I won't belabor the point.
> You decry (not unreasonably) that some establishments don't embrace new
> technologies often enough. However, I also think that many people are
> abandoning tried-and-true technologies before such abandonment is 
> warranted.
> For example, I know some younger person who, believe it or not, have never
> made out a check for themselves. Hence, they tend to think that using a
> scribe is a sign of dependence.Ibelieve such thinking to be short-sighted.
>
> Peace!
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James 
> Kelm
> via blindtlk
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 1:06 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Cc: James Kelm
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...
>
> Dear Steve,
>
>   Thank you for your thoughtful response, and it is often ironic because
> although there are a lot more tools available that can make the world
> slightly more accessible, there are still those who refuse to embrace some
> of these simple solutions.  And so many of them are not simply for us 
> blind
> folks, but they will actually help the sighted world as well.  Oh well...
> When I am elected to the position of America's first emperor, things will
> change!  LOLL
>
>   On a bit of a serious note, I noticed on your E-mail that you are in
> Minneapolis?  I am actually in Duluth.  If you would like, you can E-mail 
> me
> off list and tell me a bit about yourself.  It would be nice to have
> communication with another Minnesota person!  *smile*
>
> James Kelm
> E-mail: jameskelm at earthlink.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Jacobson via blindtlk
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 1:50 PM
> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> Cc: Steve Jacobson
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...
>
> James,
>
> It is frustrating.  There are a couple of food delivery places here in
> Minneapolis who will not take checks, and this is getting more and more
> common.  It sounds like you have found the best solution.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James 
> Kelm
> via blindtlk
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 11:31 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Cc: James Kelm
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...
>
> Thank you for all of your wonderful information that you took the time to
> relay.  I sincerely appreciate it!
>
>   I think that my bank's Bill Pay service is going to be the best option
> for me.  It is free, which is always nice.  LOLL  It also will allow me to
> send paper check with very little effort.  It is always a bit frustrating
> for me when for example my landlord, will only accept paper checks.  I 
> have
> tried to talk them into either accepting a debit card, or Paypal, but they
> just don't want to do it.  Go figure...  I only have to write 2 checks 
> each
> month, and now days so much is set up to accept either credit/debit cards 
> or
>
> Paypal, that it is rather strange that 2 of the companies that I deal with
> is so out of date.  But now I have the answer, so life is good!  *smile* 
> My
>
> only issue now is finding a program, or service, that will enable me to
> print actual money as easily as checks.  LOLL
>
>
> James
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Jacobson via blindtlk
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 11:16 AM
> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> Cc: Steve Jacobson
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...
>
> James,
>
> There are a number of things to consider.  First, let me start out by 
> saying
> that I print checks using a program from the American Printing House for 
> the
> Blind called MoneyTalks.  This program is not free, but it is pretty
> reasonably priced and it includes some nice features.
>
> First, whenever you fill in a pre-printed form, you need to pay special
> attention to your printer.  The printer has to be particularly good at
> feeding in a page so that printing starts at the same place every time. 
> The
> term that is sometimes used to describe that is the printer's 
> registration.
> If a printer is inconsistent, varying the top of the page by even 
> one-sixth
> of an inch, it will cause printing to be an entire line off which is
> unacceptable for check writing.
>
> Second, you have to make sure your printer will correctly feed a piece of
> paper the size of a check.  I use an HP printer at work that handles the
> small personal checks very nicely, but this isn't that common.  My Dell
> printer at home had a feeder that can be adjusted down to just larger than 
> a
> personal check, and with practice, I can feed personal checks into that
> printer as well.  Of course, you can order larger checks that would likely
> be handled by more printers.
>
> Also, you have to be careful of the ink used by your printer.  It used to 
> be
> said that checks should only be printed on laser printers because the ink 
> on
> inkjet printers was too easily erased.  I don't know if that is still the
> case, but if your printer meets all of the other criteria, you'll want to
> check to be sure the ink is very permanent.
>
> Finally, you probably could design a Microsoft Word document that could
> allow you to print a check or possibly something could be set up from 
> Excel,
> but this would take a bit of work.  Even if you get a program like
> MoneyTalks, you will need to work with someone to calibrate MoneyTalks to
> print correctly on your check with your printer.  This can take a bit of
> work and will require that you be able to examine the results yourself or
> with the help of a sighted reader.  You should probably be prepared to 
> waste
> a few checks as well, although you can run the same check through a few
> times to make corrections in the one-time calibration.  The reason you 
> will
> have to calibrate your printer is that even though programs like 
> MoneyTalks
> already has templates for several standard checks, the feeding guides of
> printers do not all work the same.  When feeding in smaller sizes, some 
> have
> one guide that one moves to the left until the correct width is set. 
> Other
> printers, including both of my printers, tend to center the check as it
> feeds into the printer.  Where your printer positions the check can affect
> how the calibration is set.  Further, printers usually process checks in
> landscape mode instead of portrait mode so the check can be fed in with 
> the
> end first.  This is also true of envelopes.
>
> Okay, now that I have probably scared you completely, please know that 
> I've
> been writing checks with my computer for years and I'm glad I took the 
> time
> to get it set up.  Still, I tend to want to be sure the check printed
> correctly each time.  If you don't write many checks, this may not be 
> worth
> the trouble since you probably still need to have a reader for some 
> things.
> In addition, even if a company does not take electronic payments, some 
> banks
> have a bill paying service that will actually send out a paper check for a
> fee.  Your interface is electronic, but the company you are paying 
> receives
> paper.  It might be worth making certain you have check to see if there 
> are
> options like this for you.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James 
> Kelm
> via blindtlk
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 10:45 AM
> To: Blind Talk
> Cc: James Kelm
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...
>
> Dear friends,
>
>   Does anyone know of a free program that is usable for printing, and
> filling out checks?  I am mainly looking for an accessible way to
> independently fill out the checks that I must send out each month for
> utility bills and such.  Right now I have to have a sighted friend do my
> checks, and it would be really nice to be able to do them myself!
> Unfortunately a couple of the bills that I pay each month, will not accept
> electronic payments, so I have to send them actual paper checks.
>
>   I am using a computer with Windows 7, with Microsoft Office
> Professional.
>
>   Thank you for your help!
>
>
> James
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