Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Blind mail help? (self.Blind)
submitted by cosmic_bun
I am a mailman and I want to help a blind customer. They live in an apartment complex and their mail goes in one of those tower of boxes. They’ve had no problems getting their mail and parcels before but Covid has changed lots of things, so I need to use a locker for their parcels now.
Theres no real way for them to know which key goes to which lock. They mentioned there is no braille on the key or locker so I think they can read braille. I have an embossing label maker, would labeling with that be easy to read? (A quick googling showed braille labelers were a bit pricey!)
Are there any apartment dwellers here who have any tips to make it easier for them to find the locker?
Thanks!
Theres no real way for them to know which key goes to which lock. They mentioned there is no braille on the key or locker so I think they can read braille. I have an embossing label maker, would labeling with that be easy to read? (A quick googling showed braille labelers were a bit pricey!)
Are there any apartment dwellers here who have any tips to make it easier for them to find the locker?
Thanks!
Beyond_VisualAcquity 6 points 3y ago
I've seen bumper dots used on microwave doors to help the blind and vision impaired identify numbers on their microwave. Maybe placing clear bumper dots on their locker may help? They're cheap and available at home improvement stores, Target or Amazon.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-2-in-Self-Adhesive-Clear-Surface-Bumpers-16-per-Pack-49967/203661150
Hope that helps!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-2-in-Self-Adhesive-Clear-Surface-Bumpers-16-per-Pack-49967/203661150
Hope that helps!
cosmic_bun [OP] 5 points 3y ago
This is a great and cheap idea! Thanks!
Cptn_dropbear 1 points 3y ago
Just doing a follow up
How has it gone did you find an easy solution for your customer?
How has it gone did you find an easy solution for your customer?
liamjh27 3 points 3y ago
It makes me happy knowing there’s people like you out there.
bradley22 2 points 3y ago
Me too.
Kelly_the_Kid 3 points 3y ago
You're a great person, OP.
Furnessian90 3 points 3y ago
Have a look at bumpons... little stick on dota you can put on pretty much anything. you could put one on one key and one on a locker so they match, and two on one key and two on the relevant lock.
Alternatively, something like SeeingAI may be useful to identify a locker or parcel if it has their name on it - as it would read it out from their phone.
Alternatively, something like SeeingAI may be useful to identify a locker or parcel if it has their name on it - as it would read it out from their phone.
spaceisglittery 1 points 3y ago
Where do you buy bumpons? I couldn't find them on Amazon. Thank you.
Furnessian90 1 points 3y ago
Where are you from? Just so I can show you the correct link to bumpons? :)
spaceisglittery 1 points 3y ago
I'm in the US.
yourmommaisaunicorn 3 points 3y ago
Is it possible to ask the apartment complex to install a different lock box just for them? Having no Braille on the boxes may be an ADA issue on their end.
Otherwise, how close is their apartment to the mailboxes? If it’s right next door for example could it be quicker to drop everything in front of their door, knock twice (or some special way so they know it’s the mail and not a guest) and leave to avoid exposure?
Otherwise, how close is their apartment to the mailboxes? If it’s right next door for example could it be quicker to drop everything in front of their door, knock twice (or some special way so they know it’s the mail and not a guest) and leave to avoid exposure?
cosmic_bun [OP] 4 points 3y ago
This isn’t normally a problem because the office would usually hold their parcels for them, but because of Covid they aren’t open to accept parcels.
I’m only the temp carrier on this route so I cannot make a “real” change such as always bring them their mail, without management approval of the change. I think putting dots on the lockers and keys will be a helpful change for them without getting me in trouble for changing too much if that makes sense.
I’m only the temp carrier on this route so I cannot make a “real” change such as always bring them their mail, without management approval of the change. I think putting dots on the lockers and keys will be a helpful change for them without getting me in trouble for changing too much if that makes sense.
Cptn_dropbear 3 points 3y ago
You sound like an awesome postie
Here's some ideas for you.
You can get key cases
The go around top of keys have braille numbers or lines on them.
You can get them from a locksmith for about 25 cents to $1each.
This will solve the what key do I need problem.
As for the letterbox
Doing a . With roughy translate to the letter a or number 1
Doing a : will roughy translate to the letter b or number 2 in braille
And I guess you could use this to identify the lock they need to use.
But it's best to talk to them
Counting is good
Telling them the lock they want is 7 across 5 down for example and you will mark it with : above and below lock.
And mark the starting lock with .
Hope this helps
Here's some ideas for you.
You can get key cases
The go around top of keys have braille numbers or lines on them.
You can get them from a locksmith for about 25 cents to $1each.
This will solve the what key do I need problem.
As for the letterbox
Doing a . With roughy translate to the letter a or number 1
Doing a : will roughy translate to the letter b or number 2 in braille
And I guess you could use this to identify the lock they need to use.
But it's best to talk to them
Counting is good
Telling them the lock they want is 7 across 5 down for example and you will mark it with : above and below lock.
And mark the starting lock with .
Hope this helps
cosmic_bun [OP] 4 points 3y ago
These are great ideas! Thanks!
I spoke to them today and explained I would try and put all their parcels in the same locker everytime. But I’m looking for ways to make it easier for them if they need to use one of the bigger lockers. They sell all kind of key covers I can get some really different ones!
I spoke to them today and explained I would try and put all their parcels in the same locker everytime. But I’m looking for ways to make it easier for them if they need to use one of the bigger lockers. They sell all kind of key covers I can get some really different ones!
Real_Space_Captain 3 points 3y ago
Anything that they can touch to signal it is their locker box should do! So anything that sticks out a bit, doesn't have to be fancy, even a stick that is folded a bit should work; but probably something that doesn't fall off easily or others won't attempt to remove out of confusion.
Then just warn them it is the key slot will be directly left of the sticker.
I think that should do!
Then just warn them it is the key slot will be directly left of the sticker.
I think that should do!
cosmic_bun [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Yes! I have told them I’ll put their parcels in the locker directly below their box but I wasn’t sure how to tell them to use a different one if the parcel is too big for that locker. And putting the signal next to the keyhole is a good idea because there are two keyholes on the door. (One for my key and one for theirs.) Thank you!
DrillInstructorJan 2 points 3y ago
Yeah, like everyone said, the little bumper dots. Anything that's raised will work. My kitchen is smothered in them.
spaceisglittery 2 points 3y ago
I think you could also create raised dots with nail polish.
guitarandbooks 1 points 3y ago
A Braille label is good but a bump dot would be fine as well. Anything for them to be able to spot the correct locker/keyhole would probably be great.
Nice of you to investigate this option!
Nice of you to investigate this option!
Envrin 1 points 3y ago
11Just grab a small rock even, tape it to the locker, and show them where the rock is. That's all us blind people really need. We're blind, not stupid. :-)
cosmic_bun [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Well the marker would have to be something that wouldn’t hinder people walking past the boxes and it would hopefully not draw attention to itself. Some people are not kind to their mailboxes and they get broken/bent/kicked fairly frequently. A rock taped to the box would definitely lure people to rip it off .....or maybe tape more rocks on?
Envrin 1 points 3y ago
Sorry, should have said pebble instead of rock. it can be literally anything -- a small pebble, one of those little round cupboard stoppers, one of those embossed stickers from a child's sticker sheet, or whatever. Hell, it can even be a tic tac taped to the thing, and that would work just fine.
I've been totally blind myself for 3.5 years, and us blind folks are honestly really good at being blind. We figure it out. Myself, I just need to be shown things once, and I'm good. I have a far better memory than anyone else I know, because I don't have a choice in the matter. I have to remember everything.
It really needs to be nothing more than tapying a tic tab or small pebble on her mailbox. If necessary, tape a note saying it's a blind person's mailbox, and I'm sure people will understand.
Thank you so much for being so thoughtful and considerate though. You're awesome! In exchange for your courtesty to your fellow human, here's a laugh for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bK2ZmjRY7Y
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