2.2 Billion people worldwide have some sort of visual impairment. So the financial organisations realising the blind communities struggle with identification of cards and there orientation is a real step to inclusivity, by making them accessible. Therefore giving the visually impaired their independence to deal with their own finances.
My cash cards each have a different tactile part of the cards design to let visually impaired and blind people know the orientation of the card, where the card would need to be inserted or tapped at the chip end.
3 little raised tactile dots for the Halifax card and a crescent shaped carved indent for Monzo. So they both have different types of tactile designs so I can differentiate between the two when my eyesight progresses fully.
I received my new Halifax card today after putting it in a safe place in my home 🤦🏼♀️ because I went away and only took my monzo holiday cash card with me. I can’t find it… Yet.
So this new one has the raised dots on. The old one didn’t.
Well done to these 2 banks for making this inclusion into a seeing world and making things a little easier, that really don’t take much doing really. Many others do the same and with so many of us with sight problems, we really need to be inclusive with everything as much as we can so we have a level playing field. We live in this world too.
PD 1 A Blue Halifax bank card and a neon bright orange Monzo card, rest on a cream coloured purse with a gold letter C.
PD 2 A close up of a blue Halifax bank card and a neon orange Monzo card showing the 3 raised dots on the blue card and the crescent shaped indent on the orange one.
PD 1 A Blue Halifax bank card and a neon bright orange Monzo card, rest on a cream coloured purse with a gold letter C.PD 2 A close up of a blue Halifax bank card and a neon orange Monzo card showing the 3 raised dots on the blue card and the crescent shaped indent on the orange one.
I’ve been away for a few nights with my buddies and we all had a fab time. Well needed and a long time coming for me, as I hadn’t been to foreign climbs for 15 years! Due to one thing or another.
Certainly different from the seeing world I was in last time I went. I had 20/20 vision back then. Unbeknownst to me, the genetic condition I had lurking inside me. Ready to show itself 5 years later on.
With careful walking and being mindful, (I did notice steps in the part of Tenerife I was in didn’t have any markers or contrasting colours at all to make it easier for visually impaired people to walk down them safely, but there usually was a useful handrail) it was all good and far less stressful in all than I thought it would be.
It also helped that my friend read bits of menu to me, mainly the seafood, tapas section although a breakfast was lovely for a change. The ladies also helped me with the coins in my change, reading prices for things, explained what items were etc.
Euro notes are also so much easier for me to read because the numbers are so big. Bigger than the UKs numbers on our notes anyway.
I also knew that if I came a cropper they would help. Which made the whole thing alot more relaxing for me.
Still alot more concentration, taking time to grasp what was in front of me and trying to process everything from all angles at a steady pace, whilst looking at the floor is an art in itself. I’ve learnt to just give myself a chance and be patient. I can’t rush, as that’s when accidents happen. A far cry from the carefree days of not having to think about all this, but to look at me now you wouldn’t even know I was doing all this just by looking at me. Like a swan gliding along, with the little legs going underneath ☺️.
I know I should get my phone out for reading stuff by myself, my magnifier, or use the Be my eyes app. I did a few times take a photo or a screenshot and zoom for reading a receipt, working our bills out. I should do this all the time. I just used everyone else’s eyes instead as I also trusted them all to be truthful with the amount it stated on the bill.
Now the one thing I always moan on about is my Photophobic eyes.
My sunglasses, coupled with wearing a hat, saved eye pain and glare. A few times I stupidly took them off for a bit in the shade and later on they were hurting, but they honestly saved me this holiday. They aren’t something I would ever wear before, but now I HAVE to. Even in the shaded areas.
I bought a beaded chain for my sunglasses as when we went shopping they were on off, on off, and saved me carrying them and at risk of popping them down and losing them completely. I wouldn’t be able to replace them, as ordinary sunglasses just wouldn’t have the correct protection.
They are essential to me and one of the most important things I own now. No doubt about it. I always have to have them with me.
Has anyone got anymore tips for traveling?
PD 1 A pair of black Cocoon sunglasses placed on a grey mesh sunlounger from the top view. They have a multicoloured string of beads attached to the ends of them to wear around the neck.PD 2 An orange sunset over the mountains in the background. The lights of Los Christianos, Playa de Las Americas, Costa Adeja are all lit up. Steps leading down into the street, the way into the town in the foreground.PD 3 A selfie photograph of myself, facing towards the camera. I’m a white woman with long blonde hair. A black bucket hat on my head. A pair of black cocoon sunglasses on my face. Chairs and tables are behind me. PD 4 A photograph of a receipt I took so I could zoom in and work out the amounts we each spent. The printed text on the receipt is in Spanish and is for A cheese, ham and onion baguette, 3 breakfasts and 4 Lattes in Playa de Las Americas.
I always like making the graphics for my blog as it keeps me being as creative as I can with no pressure, only to myself. They aren’t perfect anymore, but I hope you’ll excuse me as they get slightly more fuzzy and slanted as time goes on. I do think it would be a good record for the future though. It’s easier to write about my cartoon character, as it separates myself from the realities.
I don’t usually follow any trends (I hate that word) on social media, but I wanted to have a go at this as I’ve enjoyed seeing them all from the blind community.
This is how ChatGPT sees One Vision Blog after a few pointers from myself. 😁 #ActionFigure #ActionFigureTrend #ChatGPT #DuranDuran #Trend #Trending #SightlossWarrior #AdidasBold #PinaColada
PICTURE DESCRIPTION A blonde action figure winking with a smile, wearing a Duran Duran Rio t shirt, blue jeans, green and pink Adidas trainers. Beside her on the box is a business card with http://www.onevisionblog.com written on it. A pina colada cocktail and a laptop. The words sightloss Awareness Warrior. On a green box background at the top are the words One Vision Blog in black letters.
One Vision Blog 