Practical help on topics that come up often in our community: finding work, scanning QR codes, depositing checks, and running a business.
Career Readiness
Looking for a job or planning your next career move? This free guide from ResumeTemplates.com walks job seekers with disabilities through their legal rights and the resources available, writing a résumé and cover letter, whether and how to disclose a disability, networking, and preparing for interviews.
- Resume and Employment Guide for People With Disabilities – ResumeTemplates.com
All About QR Codes
QR codes are the small square patterns printed on menus, signs, packaging and mail. Scanning one with a smartphone camera opens a web page or other information. On an iPhone or Android phone, the built-in Camera app can read most QR codes: point the camera at the code, and the phone offers to open what it contains. Finding the code is often the hardest part, and apps built for blind users can help by guiding you to it.
Listen to our Third Thursday presentation on QR codes, given by Nona Haroyan on September 19, 2024.
QR Code Apps
Nona mentioned that, besides the QR scanner built into the iPhone, she and others have found these free apps useful and accessible. Each link goes to the app’s page in the Apple App Store:
Depositing Checks
Most banks let you deposit a check by taking a picture of it in their app. This AccessWorld article explains how to prepare, line up and scan a check with a smartphone and a screen reader, and which accessories make it easier.
- A Guide to Using Mobile Check Deposit and Some Helpful Accessories – American Foundation for the Blind
Information for Blind Entrepreneurs
These email lists connect blind and visually impaired business owners with each other and with customers. They are also listed on our email lists page.
IVIE: Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs
The email list of IVIE, ACB’s special interest affiliate for blind and visually impaired business owners and people thinking of starting a business. Members share news, promote their businesses, and hear about IVIE’s events, such as its online Entrepreneur Exchange talks and business expo.
To join, send a blank email to ivie+subscribe@acblists.org. You’ll get an email back asking you to confirm; reply to it, or follow its link, and you’re subscribed.
IVIE’s list is private: after you confirm, the list’s moderators approve your membership.
Blind-Biz
Run by Penny Forward, Blind-Biz sends subscribers advertisements from a vetted list of blind-owned businesses, at most one a day from each business. Subscribers can’t post, but can reply to an ad to reach its owner; business owners can apply to advertise by writing to blind-biz+owner@pennyforward.groups.io.
To join, send a blank email to blind-biz+subscribe@pennyforward.groups.io. You’ll get an email back asking you to confirm; reply to it, or follow its link, and you’re subscribed.
Blind Mice Swap Shop
A place for blind and visually impaired people to buy, sell and trade new and used items, and to promote services and upcoming events that may help others in the blind community.
To join, send a blank email to blindmiceswapshop+subscribe@groups.io. You’ll get an email back asking you to confirm; reply to it, or follow its link, and you’re subscribed.
Blind Trading Post
A friendly list where blind and low vision people buy, sell and trade new and used items.
To join, send a blank email to blind-tradingpost+subscribe@groups.io. You’ll get an email back asking you to confirm; reply to it, or follow its link, and you’re subscribed.