Category: the Rant Board
Hi all. About a week ago my husband and I went to Wal-mart to pick up a prescription. When we got there I was asked to sign for it. That is nothing new for me as I'm on Medicade and have had to sign for my perscriptions for years, but what was a shock was the inability to use the equipment. It was entirely touch screen with an area indicated for the signature. In the past I've dealt successfully with little stickers and signature pads that have the area clearly defined, but this was completely inaccessible. I also know that credit card machines in stores and possibly ATM machines are moving completely to these touch screens that we have no hope of using; especially if we have little to no vision. And I'll be damned if I'm going to stand in the middle of the store and give my ATM or credit code loud enough for the clerk and/or any other innocent; or not so innocent, by stander to hear!!!
I thought businesses in America were required to follow ADA rules? If this is the case how are these stupid touch screens doing so? I was lucky last week to have my husband who is completely sighted with me, however, I refuse to depend on anyone all the time; my husband or not!!! And what about those who don't have someone sighted around to assist? Any suggestions? I plan on contacting some organizations to get our side heard, and possibly ADA, but any other suggestions or contacts would be appreciated. If you want to get involved you can respond here, private message me and/or email me. Hope to hear from some of you soon.
i agree with you! more and more place should make there products and such availibke to the blind! if it was mee i wouldn't go there anymore. i wouldn't stand for it
To your first question cary a signature guide arouned, that's what I do. I then have the clerk put it on the touch screen and am able to sign. Second that's why I never use debit in a store, I always use credit, and just sign. I haven't sceen a lot of the ATM machines go away from keyboards yet,, although where you live might be different then where I live.
hey, that's a cool idea on the signature guide thing. I've seen those touch pads your talking about most of the ones I've seen are small and you can sign just about anywhere! the one thing that t's me off a little are the new automated teller things or checkout machines. they do talk so it really wouldn't be hard to make the hole process talk instead of.
"please chuse your language" and "place your item on the scanner"
they don't tell you the total or how much each item is.
Yeah. That 's what I do too; I use a signiture guide to sign if I am paying credit with my debit card. The casheer doesn't mind putting it on where to sign. So I don't mind that. But I agree about the little card machine. I don't like paying debit (which I must do if I want to take cash out also) because I'm forced to give my pin number because the buttons are not distinguishable from each other at all, so it's not like you can know right away wich buttons are the number pad, and all the buttons are so small and close to each other. I'd say they can at least put a tactile mark on some of the buttons so that we can easily orient ourselves as to where the number pad is, or they can make it talking (and maybe have a little switch to turn that feature on/off), and have a one-ear earphone thing so that we can listen to the prompts.
Witchcraft I'd view that as an attempt to alienate the blind/vi customer. Here the situation is every bit as bad with the controversial Chip n Pin system in place in post offices ect. Many people are unable to use this successfully without assistance. I'd do some checking on the ADA to see exactly where you stand, as with the DDA much was promised but there is very little tangible evidence, of actual change as far as shops changing their attitude towards blind/vi customers.Go get em pal!.
firstly, chip n pin is the greatest invention ever, and it is not just in post offices it is in virtually every major shop on the high street. I fail to see how anyone can say that chip n pin is inaccessible, if you can use a telephone keypad then you can use a chip n pin terminal. Far easier than having to sign for things, just enter a pin number.
with regard to touch screens, I have to say that that would annoy me intensely, we do have these signature screens over here but they tend to come with parcel delivery services .. etc, and invariably they're rubbish, apparently the signature doesn't look anything like it should, even if you can see. I seriously do not believe that shops etc deliberately set out to alienate their visually impaired customers, seriously, people need to get over this "the world is out to get us" mentality, I think that often technology is brought in, and people simply don't think how it will affect certain customers, partly because they have no experience of visually impaired people, and partly because they are in the minority, and therefore, as stated above, they have no experience of them.
It might be worth speaking to the shops in question, and seeing whether it would be possible to sign on paper, I know that with chip n pin, if someone feels they are unable to use it, then the shops will allow you to sign instead of putting in your pin, so it might be worth asking, the least they can say is no, and if they do you can explore other options then.
But I'd at least ask before consulting your lawyer :)
I'd agree with you accept from what I've seen over the past 2 years or so everyone is trying to move to the touch screens. I don't believe shops and other places are intentionally trying to alienate the blind, but instead like you said, lack of experience, but you'd think agencies setup to insure accessibility in businesses would keep an eye on such things? Also, while the signature card works in the situations I mentioned above there is situations where one has no choice but to use a pin of some sort; IE if your receiving food stamps and your state has upgraded to the EBT card. For any who don't live in the US and need some explanation; some people receive a card and monthly funds are placed on the card for individuals to use for the purchase of food, and that alone...These cards look almost exactly like a credit/debit card, however, do not have the option of signing or using your pin. It's use your pin or don't use the card. And before I get attacked by anyone for using the food stamp system...I'm currently in school, and trying to get a degree and learn enough to completely build mine and my husband's business, and there for at the current moment I will take and properly use what assistance we can get. So, back to the topic. While the signature guide is a wonderful idea for signatures; what if your in a situation where you have no choice but to use the buttons that are on the screen but can not in any way be felt?
I agree. However, as this touch screen system is becoming more widespread, you could see how this could be misconstrued as a move against certain customers. I feel the Chip n Pin is an invasion of privacy, as some users are forced to shout out their deatils, to all in sundry, leaving them vulnerable. This situation needs to change now, and people need educating now, in just how to provide assistance without making us feel completely incapable...
keypads and all that other stuff.
Technology is all very well, but it's useless, if the person behind the desk, has no idea of how to assist or interact with a blind/vi customer.
well as yet we are lucky in this country, the chip n pin terminals have proper keypads like those on a telephone, not touch screen ones, so there is absolutely no reason why a blind/VI person couldn't use them. however, in the event that they were unable to do so, you are allowed to sign instead of using the chip n pin system.
It surprises me that in a country such as the US which has such a litigation culture, that more thought hasn't been given to the issue of touch screens in shops
I agree SB. I find I'm actually quite disturbed by the thought of going to totally inaccessible technology. I've found out for sure recently that both Wal-marts that are some what close to us have changed over to touch screens; though they may have one line with the touch pad...How long is that going to last? And a local grocery store has also switched to touch screens completely. What's next?
I ran into the whole touch-screen thing when I shopped at Safeway stores in California. I'll give them credit. They did have a Braille overlay that went over the screen and as long as it fit well, the Braille would correspond to the little squares on the touch screen. Problem is, in just getting an idea of how the screen is set up by reading the Braille, I would end up pushing buttons I did not mean to push. I also don't think companies are purposely shutting out the blind, but they just don't realize that blind people do frequent their stores and do prefer to shop there and purchase as self-sufficiently as they can. I think it is assumed by the uninformed that we all have hired aids that go everywhere with us and act as interpreters or punch in PIN codes for us at touch screens and all that. Yep, I just picked a fresh Somebody off the Somebody Tree I have growing out back so they can do the helper thing! Yeah right.
Witchcraft I would seriously mount a campaign to get rid of these touch screen pads, or failing that, to have them adapted.