Keeping Track of Money from American House for the Blind (APH)
On the APH sight you will find a wealth of information regarding how to manage your money from how to identify money through the folding process (see below) to everyday living skills.
Identifying Bills by Fold
By folding denominations of bills in different ways, you can easily locate them in your wallet. Here's how:
Leave $1 bills unfolded
Fold $5 bills lengthwise
Fold $10 bills by width
- Fold $20 bills lengthwise and then by width. Or you can fold them just lengthwise and put them in a separate section of your wallet
Identifying coins by touch - practice with a friend or family member using these techniques
- Size - The dime is the smallest coin, and the half-dollar is the largest.
- Edge - The penny and the nickel have a smooth edge. The dime, quarter, and half-dollar have a milled, ridged edge.
- Thickness - The nickel is thicker than the other coins.
http://www.afb.org/section.asp?SectionID=40&TopicID=215&DocumentID=2232
Living Skills Center for the Visually Impaired
Attention-graduating seniors looking for those easy to use must have checklists that target what you need to know when transitioning from high school to your next step – well check out this checklists at
Transition and Pre-Vocational
Social Skills
Orientation and Mobility
Living Skills
Food Preparation
Financial Management checklist includes a wide variety of skills for the visually impaired young adult making that very important move to transition from high school to the work world. This checklist covers topics such as handling money, banking, signing checks with a signature card and so much more.
http://www.livingskillscenter.org/fa.html
St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Has an outstanding summer camp program called Project STEP. Below is a brief description (retrieved from the website April 3, 2009) stating the areas of transition that are targeted for high school seniors.
Project STEP A program directing the way for our young adults with visual impairmentsSummer Transition and Employment Program is the first program of its kind offered by the Society, partially funded by the St. Louis Lighthouse for the Blind, for high school students who will go to college or into the competitive work force. The focus of the program is for intensive lessons in adaptive technology (speech and large print screen computer programs), meal preparation and exposure to work settings and other professionals who are blind. Programs address additional needs students must learn as they transition into adulthood, such as ironing, cleaning, cooking, money management and so much more.
Click here for their complete mission statement, vision statement, eligibility requirements, and all the STEP components; as well as the application to apply for Project STEP 2009.
http://www.lhbindustries.com/seethefuture/step.asp
Truthfully, I have never thought about how an individual with visual impairment identifies money. I never think twice about purchasing items. I just do it. Your blog helps other realize the difficulties of money management for individuals with visual impairments. This week I read that the U.S. Mint is releasing the Louis Braille Bicentennial Commemorative Dollar. This is the first U.S. coin to have readable braille on it.
ReplyDeleteMs. Ryan,
ReplyDeleteYour information is very rich : ). I particularly like the information on how to store my money. I thought I was doing something by putting the larger bills in the center and working my way out to the least denomination. At times, I thought I originally had more money than I counted and wondered if I lost it. The method you introduced is much simpler and I know exactly how many bills I have of each denomination. Thanks for the good info!