Category: Daily Living
Hi, guys!
My new job will involve me hand printing (NOT writing) a lot. I used to have more vision, so I have a mental picture of the letters and what they look like, but am about 20 years out of practice writing consistently. My employer is being SUPER supportive, letting me take my time and re-learn the skill, so....
Does anyone have any pointers on how best to refresh this? I bought a writing guide to work on line spacing (something that was always a challenge).
Thanks!
Kate
Maybe get some of those plastic letters and practice tracing them.
Hi. I suggest that, since you already know how to print, use a tablet or something like that, press down pretty hard while writing and then, flip over the paper and feel what you have written. It will be mirror image but, you can tell what you wrote, how the letters look, and, if the lines are straight.
I tend to make my letters bigger than sighted folks but, they can still read it.
Just have to practice.
I know you said hand, but I wonder if you could use a type writer?
They still have small portables.
Just an idea?
Dana, great suggestion about the tablet or notepad... that's awesome; I will so try that! My biggest problem seems to be with numbers/letters that are rounded (my number 8 looks like a snowman without a head!)
Wayne, Interesting idea about portable typewriter... I will have to look into that :)
Kate
Kate please let me know what you find. My next major goal in life is to learn how to write perfect print. I only know how to write my name and it looks worse than chicken scratch.
I've always had trouble with the pointy letters like the m and v and w. I can't make that point, it always comes out rounded.
I can't really think of any suggestions that haven't been said already. Though,
I can make a suggestion for how to make your W pointy. stop your pen. Instead
of making the point with one motion, make it with two. Go up, stop, then go
back down. This will keep you from making a curve. It won't be perfect, but it
will be better.
I, too, would like to be able to write print. As of now, I can write my name, but
not free hand very well. I have one of those signature guides which is divided
into blocks, one block for each letter. With credit card receipts and things of
that nature, I just initial. If I have to write more than a couple words, my hand
begins to cramp, I suppose because I am not used to actually writing. and
Kate, would your employer not allow you to use a computer for your writing
needs?
When I'm asked to sign something I draw a sine curve.
Heh, cute.
I can sorta kinda write my name, but it's pretty chickenscratch. It used to be better, but I was never actually taught to print any more than that. For awhile they had me trying to actually handwrite my name, though I don't know why. I've even signed legal documents, and I've never had an issue printing my signature.
Those plastic letters are a good idea if you aren't completely sure what they're supposed to look like. I get some of them confused from time to time, particularly lower-case letters. If I paid attention I could probably print semi-legibly in big blocky letters, since I remember all the upper-case ones at least. Good luck with your new job, by the way.
OP, may I ask what job you have that requires you to write freehand?
Computers an idea, but she'd need a small printer.
If she asked to add things to the document, the type writer is the better choice.
I'm not sure if you can order things from places like American Printing House for the Blind, since you're in Canada, but maybe they ship internationally. I only bring them up because I know they used to have a couple resources for learning to write print. I haven't used APH in a long time, but maybe they still do.
Great ideas, guys!
We've agreed that most of what I do is going to be typed out on the computer... I book appointments, and make notes and attach them to the file. But when I am creating files myself, I need to write the number on the page. Right now, am just practicing with scrap paper and a writing guide, which the dispatchers will write on the forms. I hope to soon be able to write file numbers myself directly on the paper, or notes like "left a message", but my printing is out of practice and the spacing needs work.
Thankfully, my writing is legible, if badly spaced, so there is hope :)
If all you need write is numbers, you could use a stamp?
You can buy them with 2 3 4 numbers, or whatever you need.
You set it buy rolling the weel on the numbers to the one you need.
Example, if you need 257, you set the first number to 2, second 5 third 7.
Press it on the inker, and press it to the page. Smile.
Some polaces will even make you a signature stamp, but these have to be really kept safe, because if you get your bank and such to accept it, it is your legal signature.
Lose it, it has to be reported, and your signature changed.
Awesome! I think a trip to Staples is in my future :)
We tried to find date stamps here, which might be useful, but the only one that's remotely tactile doesn't use 2015 dates in their year column.
Ah, yes, Staples .
That be a good place to get one.
Not that I'm promoting laziness, you understand, but... Smile.
The power of the stamp, is mighty too. Lol
I have a signature stamp, and love the thing! Stamps are good if you'll be writing the same thing frequently, like your signature, a frequent phrase, or a particular set of the same numbers. But I don't think stamps are a good solution for when you'll need to write a variety of numbers or letters. Wayne is right, a signature stamp must be kept safe, but I've never had any trouble with losing mine in the 12 years I've had one, and I'd recommend them to anyone interested.
I have used a signature stamp for more than 20 years. Got my last one a month or so ago from staples. I had a friend with me; she guided my hand and we made a signature from which a stamp was made. As for legality. if there is any question, have 2 witnesses sign their names along with yours so no questions are asked. I never could write my name and went through the training for that twice.
ARGH! This writing print thing is SO much harder than I thought. My visual memory is still fully intact, but transmitting that to paper has been... challenging.
So we're getting number stencils.
As for the stamp idea... I've been using date stamps, but the one I have is annoying at best and clunky at worst. I find myself either not pressing hard enough so that the date stamp is nearly illegible, or too hard (or uncertainly?) so that it's blotchy and wobbly...
*sighs*
How does a date stamp work, Kate? Do you have to change the numbers every time? Is that accessible? I've never seen a date stamp that looked usable for a blind person. Do tell?
Wayne's right, I got a typewriter at a thrift store when I operated food vending stands. Having used those for the duratikon of my school years, I got to be fast at minor repairs, changing ribbons and the like. So I switched out the ribbons, cleaned up the internal, straightened a spring and used it. It worked well enough I could leave it for the next people who owned the store.
Just remember that the quote symbol is usually over the number 2, and there is often not a number 1. You have to use a lower case l for that.
I think the Olympias had a 1 key, but not the Royals. And there were countless knock-offs. But to be honest the little portables aren't that hard to type on, not like the big Royal secretarial office machines were.
Trials and tribulations of having to do papers before I could afford any computer technology. You've never lived till the ribbon ran out on page 2 of a 25-page paper you were writing.
Nice thing about these little guys though, they will last forever doing small print jobs. The ribbon can usually go through 2 to 3 cycles -- meaning it spools out once then reverses and spools back in again. PM me privately if you have any trouble with yours. Look in thrift stores. Libraries and grandmothers sell the things off for pennies, you just have to clean them up some and buy ribbon.
Thanks! :) We will see how we want to do this... but the stencils look great! I have big and small stencils; the most usable ones are what might be considered large print, but they are NIIIIIICE! Just need to work on spacing, but is definitely workable
I'll tell you some sighted people can barely write, so don't be to hard on yourself. :)
That's so very true. Working in a bank, I see all manner of writing, using all manner of paper and writing impliments. My least favorite, faded blue ink on brown ... or really any kind of paper.
yeah I've not heard of those kind of stamps before either and they sound quite neat, smiles.
I have to agree with the last poster that at least you are doing your best and I agree that your not doing to badly, smiles.