[Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

Tue Aug 4 18:39:17 UTC 2015

Hi Judy,
I'm with you all the way here. IT is so sad that Braille often does not get
the attention it deserves. In many respects, I love all of this newer
technology such as the PC, digital audio reader and the SMART phone. But
Braille will never be obsolete and anyone who does not ensure that today's
blind children get a good grounding in reading of Braille does so at the
expense of those children. 
I do see a couple of hopeful changes that should help to bring Braille back
to the importance it deserves.
1. National Braille press and a number of other organizations are working on
and Android mobile device including a Braille display at a much lower cost
than any other presently available display.
2. Karen Keninger, director of NLS has professed a goal of eventually
providing a reader that includes a Braille display for any NLS patron who is
a Braille reader. She wants this device distributed free of charge just like
the digital talking book player.
I have been totally blind since birth and can't imagine life without
Braille.
Bob Hachey 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judy Jones
via blindtlk
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2015 1:17 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Judy Jones
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

I think that all professionals in the field and anyone should stop using the
phrase "reading braille," as, to my mind, "reading" is "reading," whether
print or braille, the medium does not make the difference.  

Would we put up with our sighted kids having mediocre instruction in
reading?  Are parents telling their blind kids in elementary schools to read
at least 20 minutes a day?

Audio intake is fine, I enjoy audio books myself, but intake from audio is
not reading.  The literacy statement below is very true.  One is illiterate
if they have not taken the time to master braille.  I am not saying that one
can't learn from audio or that one is inferior in any way.  But audio intake
uses different skills sets not used in print or braille reading.
Furthermore, one misses realtime formatting, spelling, and grammar.

How many e-mails have you all read from time to time that are comprised of
run-on sentences and occasional misspelled words?  Not totally positive, but
guess that those persons are dealing with Siri-type programs that are
imperfect, and unless they know to go back and proof what has been dictated,
an imperfect e-mail has been sent out.  But the lack of emphasis on braille
is going to harm our children vocationally and affect the rest of their
lives if someone does not come into the parents lives at the child's early
ages and start dealing with those tough questions.  Sorry if I got on my
soap box.  Am blind myself, use braille, and am a former teacher.  I also
see kids whose academic career is being destroyed by misinformed teachers,
frightened parents, and well-meaning professionals who are not dealing with
the "elephant in the living room," when it comes to the child's education.

Judy Jones
(Sent From My U2 Mini)
________________________________________
From: blindtlk [blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Hyde, David W.
(ESC) via blindtlk [blindtlk at nfbnet.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2015 6:47 AM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Cc: Hyde, David W. (ESC)
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

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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