[Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

Hyde, David W. (ESC) david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us
Tue Aug 4 12:47:53 UTC 2015 

If a blind person can't read braille, and can't read print, that person is, by definition, illiterate. I know students who are rated as audio learners. Most can't write, can't spell, can't parse sentences. Now, for those who enjoy words, is someone who can't learn auditoraly inaudient?

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Kelm via blindtlk
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2015 12:46 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: James Kelm
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

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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