[Blindtlk] Check Writing Software Ideas Wanted...

Mon Aug 31 21:27:39 UTC 2015

Good afternoon, Dave,

         and after becoming brain damaged, a gift which began to 
manifest after the coma was what they called tactile appraxia (, the 
inability of the limbs (I.E.) the hands and feet, to transmit slices 
of nuance, decisively brain word. In fact, prior to acquiring a 
damaged brain, my regard of braille looked, and continues to look 
like a best friend or lover.
I am saying all this to remind you of the experiences of those of us 
whom feel pretty literate though the sensation of so many dots 
themselves is unavailable. In this case, I have retained all I ever 
knew of the braille code, even the smattering of Grade 3 I learned 
while interning at the CCB.
Car 2015, you wrote:
>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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