MyVisionTest News Archive

Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind Recently banks in many parts of the world have been a target of complaints by people that are blind or partially sighted that they do not have independent access to banking services. The vision impaired are requesting improved services for people with visual disabilities and access to all the possible banking facilities.

Accommodating the needs of the visually impaired would require an infrastructure of accessible hardware and software, in addition to special training for the blind and visually impaired people, who wish to have access rights to the various banking services. The task is difficult but not impossible, and progress has already occuring.

Special audio-enabled or voice-equipped ATMs have been designed to facilitate the blind and visually impaired users. These custom ATMs are equipped with headphone jacks to conduct transactions through audio assisted mechanism and provide listening devices to persons with visual impairments so that they can receive audio instructions for the transactions displayed on the ATM screen. Some of them have Braille numbers and large print on the keys. These specially designed ATM machines give step by step guide to the user by the human voice scripts, including the selection of the desired keys, spotting on the machine from where cash can be removed or deposited.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind Recently banks in many parts of the world have been a target of complaints by people that are blind or partially sighted that they do not have independent access to banking services. The vision impaired are requesting improved services for people with visual disabilities and access to all the possible banking facilities.

Accommodating the needs of the visually impaired would require an infrastructure of accessible hardware and software, in addition to special training for the blind and visually impaired people, who wish to have access rights to the various banking services. The task is difficult but not impossible, and progress has already occuring.

Special audio-enabled or voice-equipped ATMs have been designed to facilitate the blind and visually impaired users. These custom ATMs are equipped with headphone jacks to conduct transactions through audio assisted mechanism and provide listening devices to persons with visual impairments so that they can receive audio instructions for the transactions displayed on the ATM screen. Some of them have Braille numbers and large print on the keys. These specially designed ATM machines give step by step guide to the user by the human voice scripts, including the selection of the desired keys, spotting on the machine from where cash can be removed or deposited.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind Recently banks in many parts of the world have been a target of complaints by people that are blind or partially sighted that they do not have independent access to banking services. The vision impaired are requesting improved services for people with visual disabilities and access to all the possible banking facilities.

Accommodating the needs of the visually impaired would require an infrastructure of accessible hardware and software, in addition to special training for the blind and visually impaired people, who wish to have access rights to the various banking services. The task is difficult but not impossible, and progress has already occuring.

Special audio-enabled or voice-equipped ATMs have been designed to facilitate the blind and visually impaired users. These custom ATMs are equipped with headphone jacks to conduct transactions through audio assisted mechanism and provide listening devices to persons with visual impairments so that they can receive audio instructions for the transactions displayed on the ATM screen. Some of them have Braille numbers and large print on the keys. These specially designed ATM machines give step by step guide to the user by the human voice scripts, including the selection of the desired keys, spotting on the machine from where cash can be removed or deposited.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind Recently banks in many parts of the world have been a target of complaints by people that are blind or partially sighted that they do not have independent access to banking services. The vision impaired are requesting improved services for people with visual disabilities and access to all the possible banking facilities.

Accommodating the needs of the visually impaired would require an infrastructure of accessible hardware and software, in addition to special training for the blind and visually impaired people, who wish to have access rights to the various banking services. The task is difficult but not impossible, and progress has already occuring.

Special audio-enabled or voice-equipped ATMs have been designed to facilitate the blind and visually impaired users. These custom ATMs are equipped with headphone jacks to conduct transactions through audio assisted mechanism and provide listening devices to persons with visual impairments so that they can receive audio instructions for the transactions displayed on the ATM screen. Some of them have Braille numbers and large print on the keys. These specially designed ATM machines give step by step guide to the user by the human voice scripts, including the selection of the desired keys, spotting on the machine from where cash can be removed or deposited.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Tracy Atwell said she is looking forward to the day when American currency comes in different sizes.

The Corbin City mom lost most of her sight in 1998 to a rare hereditary condition. Now she can barely make out the large-print "20" on new bills - and she does this by holding the bill to the tip of her nose.

Atwell, 32, tries to do a lot of her own family shopping. This is difficult because a $10 bill feels just like a single. She hates to rely on the honesty of store clerks, some of whom she is sure have taken advantage of her disability over the years.

A federal court ruled last month that the U.S. Treasury Department discriminates against the blind. The split appellate court ruled that the agency denies "meaningful access" to American money.

Related News

• Paper money discriminates against the blind
• National Federation of the Blind Denounces Ruling on Accessible Paper Money Lawsuit
• Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind

The Treasury Department estimated that it would cost $3.5 billion to retool or replace America's 7 million snack and soda vending machines to accommodate the changes. This does not count the multitude of automated-teller machines.

The department spent $113 million redesigning currency in 2004. It has about two months to appeal the decision.

Atwell attends a blind support group at First United Methodist Church of Avalon. The Blind Center of the Jersey Cape meets twice a week to talk and listen to music.

Some of the members said they don't want any special accommodations.

Many of the group's members have learned to cope with consumerism by folding their bills in different ways depending on the denomination. But this sorting often requires the help of a friend or relative when store clerks make change.

Millicent Saraduke, the group's founder, keeps her singles in a separate coin purse. In her pocketbook, she sorts her large bills with an index card and then folds the smaller bills once or twice.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Tracy Atwell said she is looking forward to the day when American currency comes in different sizes.

The Corbin City mom lost most of her sight in 1998 to a rare hereditary condition. Now she can barely make out the large-print "20" on new bills - and she does this by holding the bill to the tip of her nose.

Atwell, 32, tries to do a lot of her own family shopping. This is difficult because a $10 bill feels just like a single. She hates to rely on the honesty of store clerks, some of whom she is sure have taken advantage of her disability over the years.

A federal court ruled last month that the U.S. Treasury Department discriminates against the blind. The split appellate court ruled that the agency denies "meaningful access" to American money.

Related News

• Paper money discriminates against the blind
• National Federation of the Blind Denounces Ruling on Accessible Paper Money Lawsuit
• Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind

The Treasury Department estimated that it would cost $3.5 billion to retool or replace America's 7 million snack and soda vending machines to accommodate the changes. This does not count the multitude of automated-teller machines.

The department spent $113 million redesigning currency in 2004. It has about two months to appeal the decision.

Atwell attends a blind support group at First United Methodist Church of Avalon. The Blind Center of the Jersey Cape meets twice a week to talk and listen to music.

Some of the members said they don't want any special accommodations.

Many of the group's members have learned to cope with consumerism by folding their bills in different ways depending on the denomination. But this sorting often requires the help of a friend or relative when store clerks make change.

Millicent Saraduke, the group's founder, keeps her singles in a separate coin purse. In her pocketbook, she sorts her large bills with an index card and then folds the smaller bills once or twice.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Tracy Atwell said she is looking forward to the day when American currency comes in different sizes.

The Corbin City mom lost most of her sight in 1998 to a rare hereditary condition. Now she can barely make out the large-print "20" on new bills - and she does this by holding the bill to the tip of her nose.

Atwell, 32, tries to do a lot of her own family shopping. This is difficult because a $10 bill feels just like a single. She hates to rely on the honesty of store clerks, some of whom she is sure have taken advantage of her disability over the years.

A federal court ruled last month that the U.S. Treasury Department discriminates against the blind. The split appellate court ruled that the agency denies "meaningful access" to American money.

Related News

• Paper money discriminates against the blind
• National Federation of the Blind Denounces Ruling on Accessible Paper Money Lawsuit
• Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind

The Treasury Department estimated that it would cost $3.5 billion to retool or replace America's 7 million snack and soda vending machines to accommodate the changes. This does not count the multitude of automated-teller machines.

The department spent $113 million redesigning currency in 2004. It has about two months to appeal the decision.

Atwell attends a blind support group at First United Methodist Church of Avalon. The Blind Center of the Jersey Cape meets twice a week to talk and listen to music.

Some of the members said they don't want any special accommodations.

Many of the group's members have learned to cope with consumerism by folding their bills in different ways depending on the denomination. But this sorting often requires the help of a friend or relative when store clerks make change.

Millicent Saraduke, the group's founder, keeps her singles in a separate coin purse. In her pocketbook, she sorts her large bills with an index card and then folds the smaller bills once or twice.

MyVisionTest News Archive

Tracy Atwell said she is looking forward to the day when American currency comes in different sizes.

The Corbin City mom lost most of her sight in 1998 to a rare hereditary condition. Now she can barely make out the large-print "20" on new bills - and she does this by holding the bill to the tip of her nose.

Atwell, 32, tries to do a lot of her own family shopping. This is difficult because a $10 bill feels just like a single. She hates to rely on the honesty of store clerks, some of whom she is sure have taken advantage of her disability over the years.

A federal court ruled last month that the U.S. Treasury Department discriminates against the blind. The split appellate court ruled that the agency denies "meaningful access" to American money.

Related News

• Paper money discriminates against the blind
• National Federation of the Blind Denounces Ruling on Accessible Paper Money Lawsuit
• Banks eye hi-tech facilities for blind

The Treasury Department estimated that it would cost $3.5 billion to retool or replace America's 7 million snack and soda vending machines to accommodate the changes. This does not count the multitude of automated-teller machines.

The department spent $113 million redesigning currency in 2004. It has about two months to appeal the decision.

Atwell attends a blind support group at First United Methodist Church of Avalon. The Blind Center of the Jersey Cape meets twice a week to talk and listen to music.

Some of the members said they don't want any special accommodations.

Many of the group's members have learned to cope with consumerism by folding their bills in different ways depending on the denomination. But this sorting often requires the help of a friend or relative when store clerks make change.

Millicent Saraduke, the group's founder, keeps her singles in a separate coin purse. In her pocketbook, she sorts her large bills with an index card and then folds the smaller bills once or twice.