George, in my humble opinion these problems are almost always a training
issue. The problem is that companies in particular, but this also
applies to blindness charities in my opinion, buy Braille production
equipment, and completely fail to train the staff who need to use it how
to use it probably. It's often the case that there may be some it staff
that understand it, but they're not the people using it on a day to day
basis.
On 27/11/2015 21:55, George Bell wrote:
Hi Alison,
Thank goodness for a slight change of topic.
I'd like to take up your mention of mail-shots in a little more detail.
95% or more of the problems of this nature occur because those involved simply
do not appreciate that they are asking the wrong people.
Where braille is concerned, they should be contacting their braille software
supplier, who, if they are simply a dealer, should in turn, contact the
developer's technical support.
Regular programmers and IT staff who do not deal with braille software in their
day to day work, neither appreciate nor understand the workings of same. The
same with the hardware. Moreover, most of said people appear to have a genetic
disorder which stops them from researching the subject correctly.
It's not rocket science. With the right software, and very minor changes to
the database they use, there is absolutely no reason why documents of
individuals cannot be embossed in the requested grade of braille and single or
double-sided.
George
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of CJ
&AA MAY
Sent: Friday, 27 November 2015 21:12
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: the wrong question - was braille statements RNIB sides
with the Ombudsman
I can see your reasoning. But But I can't see how any service provider can meet
the needs of a disabled person 100 percent and I feel there needs to be some
reasonable adjustment on our part too.
When I worked for Kent Association for the Blind one of our problems (which to
my knowledge still hasn't been resolved), was how, when sending out a mailshot,
you could identify each person's preferred format. Perhaps they now have a more
sophisticated computer programme, but at the time the computer just contained
basic details, like name, address, date of birth, date of registration and type
of registration. When they did a mailshot, the computer just churned out
address labels. It was impossible, and may still be, to ensure people had their
communication in their preferred format, for example, at the time of
registration they might be able to read x 16 but who knows 2 years later?
Perhaps they can't even read at all anymore!
If an organisation whose business was sight impaired people couldn't get it
right, then it is a tall order to expect a commercial company to meet
everyone's specific needs. Otherwise, should they be offering statements in a
choice of font sizes, colour contrast, via e-mail, on cassette (still some
people's preferred option), CD, memory sticks, SD cards etc. etc. Surely, as a
business, they need to meet the needs of their disabled customers in as
efficient and cost-effective way as possible. I do have some sympathy with
Derek's plight, but have some sympathy for the bank too whose expertise isn't
with technology for the sight impaired.
Alison
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