Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Experience Dealing with CA DMV? (self.Blind)
submitted by NoConfidence_2192
I find myself having to deal with the California DMV and it's looking like I will have to go in to a local office. Does anyone have an idea how that works? From what I remember from when I was still fully sighted you:
1. Queue up to enter the building and check in.
2. Get a number from the check in person. I might be able to see this to read it depending on print size and quality.
3. Wait for your number to pop up on a display. I will not be able to see that.
4. Go to the teller window you are directed to when your number pops up. There are 20 or so at my local office if I remember correctly. I will probably not be able to see the window numbers.
5. Take care of your business with the teller.
6. Find your way out of the building through one of the authorized exits which is different from the entrance.
Does anyone have experience with experience visiting California DMV local office? Any tips or suggestions will be welcome.
1. Queue up to enter the building and check in.
2. Get a number from the check in person. I might be able to see this to read it depending on print size and quality.
3. Wait for your number to pop up on a display. I will not be able to see that.
4. Go to the teller window you are directed to when your number pops up. There are 20 or so at my local office if I remember correctly. I will probably not be able to see the window numbers.
5. Take care of your business with the teller.
6. Find your way out of the building through one of the authorized exits which is different from the entrance.
Does anyone have experience with experience visiting California DMV local office? Any tips or suggestions will be welcome.
akrazyho 4 points 1y ago
You can go in and ask for help but in my experience and because of recent viruses they may be short on help and or they may not be able to assist you in that manner and they also might just be shorthanded. Ideally you want to go in with somebody but I understand that that may not always be possible. You could FaceTime or video chat somebody and navigate using that method. Last resort you can use the app Be My Eyes and they can guide you via video chat
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
I will be fine. I'm going to have to give Be My Eyes a look. The amount of time I have some usable vision is getting so low that I cannot really count on having it when I need it. Even the computer is mostly NVDA these days. Thank you for the info.
PromiscuousAlien 3 points 1y ago
In California as well and let me tell you, DMV is just stressful for anyone!! When I couldn’t see well, I walked to the entrance where the security is and said I can’t see well, can you please help me. He took me to the line that is for appointments and ‘disabled’. Told the lady what I was in there for. Got my ticket and they took me to the chair that has the little disabled sticker. And the window is right in front of those chairs. So when they call out the number over the speakers I stand and walk straight to the window.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Best of luck.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Best of luck.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Thank you. I will not be shy about asking.
scaram0uche 3 points 1y ago
There have been some major updates to make the services easier. Check online for what you need to do and maybe have a friend come with you to help. For example, with the Real ID you can take photos of your documents then upload them for approval, which gives you a code so you can walk in using the appointment line and get the last few things done!
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/special-interest-driver-guides/people-with-disabilities/
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/special-interest-driver-guides/people-with-disabilities/
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Thank you. It is RealID and I have already handled most of it online. I do not have the skills to handle scanning with the amount of vision I have right now but I did manage get the application handled. I just have to take the documents in with me when I go in. The only thing that had me apprehensive was maneuvering when I was there. I do okay away from crowds but I do not have much practice around a lot of people. This will be a good first run for me. It's not really something I can avoid forever. Thank you for the info!
scaram0uche 2 points 1y ago
Then you are 90% done! Use the Appointment line to get in and get a number - Real ID is separate from everything else so it'll be fast! They'll visually check your paperwork, have you pay, write your signature, and take the photo. It took me longer to drive to the DMV than I was actually inside.
I found hard, even as a sighted person, to find the appointment line so if you have a friend who can join you that may be helpful. Otherwise you can call and see if they have other services that will be able to make sure you can easily get in the door.
I found hard, even as a sighted person, to find the appointment line so if you have a friend who can join you that may be helpful. Otherwise you can call and see if they have other services that will be able to make sure you can easily get in the door.
gunfart 3 points 1y ago
You know that you can ask for assistance with everything after walking in the door, right? You won’t be alone and typically a guard of some sort will be standing around with nothing too do. Don’t be afraid to ask
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I do and will. I just had a moment of self doubt hit me but you all have helped calm that down a bit. It's not normally a problem but it sneaks up on me every now and then. Thank you.
TechnicalPragmatist 0 points 1y ago
Yes, Southern California here. It is not the most fun, but doable
Ask for help basically. When you get there try to ask around to see where the line is. I suppose going around to see if you can get security to help you. If you have some vision get in line. For me who’s totally blind i ask where the line is and where the end of it is. I get to the end of it and ask the last. Person to tell me when the line moves. I could track their foot with my cane if i wanted but its just easier to get them to tell me. Usually they are willing.
The security helps me to the ticketing spot. Guy hands me a ticket.
they may help me to a seat or something sometimes the check in desk is opened so i go over there and tell them what and why I come for.
Then I get some help back to my seat so I don’t. Have to find another random chair or check every chair to see if it’s actually taken.
The numbers are actually called over a speaker system and at least twice if not three times so I just listen to it, I ask them to come get me but. The bureaucrats don’t always do their jobs. Or I listen for my name to be called.
Usually security says they will look out for me, when I hear my name I try to walk around really quick and get their attention, if they don’t come which is more rare I admit. I get some help to the window.
I. Talk to them and sometimes have to convince them I am blind and need help with filling out stuff, sometimes they are willing other times not so much.
After that they call security for me and I get some help outside.
Ask for help basically. When you get there try to ask around to see where the line is. I suppose going around to see if you can get security to help you. If you have some vision get in line. For me who’s totally blind i ask where the line is and where the end of it is. I get to the end of it and ask the last. Person to tell me when the line moves. I could track their foot with my cane if i wanted but its just easier to get them to tell me. Usually they are willing.
The security helps me to the ticketing spot. Guy hands me a ticket.
they may help me to a seat or something sometimes the check in desk is opened so i go over there and tell them what and why I come for.
Then I get some help back to my seat so I don’t. Have to find another random chair or check every chair to see if it’s actually taken.
The numbers are actually called over a speaker system and at least twice if not three times so I just listen to it, I ask them to come get me but. The bureaucrats don’t always do their jobs. Or I listen for my name to be called.
Usually security says they will look out for me, when I hear my name I try to walk around really quick and get their attention, if they don’t come which is more rare I admit. I get some help to the window.
I. Talk to them and sometimes have to convince them I am blind and need help with filling out stuff, sometimes they are willing other times not so much.
After that they call security for me and I get some help outside.
NoConfidence_2192 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thanks. Just had a few moments of self doubt. I do all kinds of things on my own without problem but every so often something new will throw me off. So I will do the usual. Just go and do it, asking for help as needed. Another new adventure. Thanks for talking some sense into me.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Not a problem.
Yeah, I know how it is, you can do this. It will be.
Yeah, I know how it is, you can do this. It will be.
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