Can Blind People Handle Their Own Finances? Yes—And We Have Systems
Every so often, people ask questions that reveal a bigger assumption hiding underneath. One of those questions is: Can blind people really handle their own finances? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes—and we often have systems, tools, routines, and a good sense of humor to help us do it.
Cash, Folding, and the Fine Art of Not Losing Track
For example, cash can be identified in several ways. There are apps like Seeing AI and Be My Eyes, and there are also small handheld devices that announce the bill amount or provide haptic feedback. Personally, I prefer a method that does not require a battery, a charger, or me saying, “Where did I put that thing?” I get cash from my bank and ask them to fold the bills by denomination.
Ones stay flat with no folding.
Fives are folded in half horizontally.
Tens are folded in half vertically.
Twenties are folded into quarters, so they feel clearly different from the others.
Since I usually do not carry higher denominations, this system works well for me. If you do use larger bills, you can create your own folding method. The goal is simple: make the money identifiable in a way that works for you.
Coins are another matter, but they are manageable too. Pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters all have different sizes and edges. If you hold them in your hand, you can learn to identify them without looking.
For coins, I sort them by touch:
1. Feel the edges first. Dimes and quarters have ridged edges, while pennies and nickels have smooth edges.
2. Then compare the sizes. The quarter is the larger ridged coin, and the dime is the smaller one. Among the smooth coins, the nickel is larger than the penny.
Some coins, like the Susan B. Anthony dollar, can be harder to distinguish because they feel similar to a quarter. My personal financial plan for those is simple: I hope one does not sneak into my change and make me accidentally generous.
Other countries have made money more accessible by using tactile markings or bills that are different sizes. Canada, for example, has included tactile features on its currency. I would love to see more practical accessibility built into money everywhere, including here in the United States. If you live in another country and have experience with accessible currency, I would genuinely love to hear how it works for you.
I love learning creative ways to make everyday tasks easier. That is not laziness; that is efficiency with personality.
Banking Online with a Screen Reader
Now, let’s talk about banking—because money does not manage itself, no matter how politely I ask. Many blind people are very skilled at using the internet, mobile apps, and screen readers. Personally, I do not know what I did before my iPhone. I probably survived, but I am sure it involved more frustration and fewer helpful notifications.
Screen readers help us navigate online by speaking what is on the screen. As we tab, arrow, swipe, or tap through a website or app, the screen reader tells us what item we are on. When we find the right button, link, or field, we activate it using gestures on a phone or keyboard shortcuts on a computer.
One thing I have learned is that blindness often requires a lot of memorization. I use keyboard shortcuts on my Windows PC and gestures, swipes, and taps on my iPhone. I also learn how websites are organized so I can move through them quickly. Some blind people can hear just the first syllable from a screen reader and already know where they are. Me? With hearing loss, I sometimes need the whole word, a repeat, and maybe a moment of grace.
The problem is that many websites and apps still are not fully accessible. I may encounter a button or link that has no label, which means my screen reader simply says “button” or “link” without telling me what it does. That is not helpful. I do not click mysterious unlabeled buttons. I have enough adventure in my life already.
My banking app is mostly simple, but it still has challenges. When I run into an accessibility problem, I try to advocate respectfully with bank staff so the issue can be understood and corrected. I appreciate when organizations are willing to listen, learn, and improve.
When Accessibility Breaks Down
Recently, I went to my bank in person because I could not find the bill pay option in the app. I had used bill pay before, but this was a new bank, and the navigation was not obvious with my screen reader. At first, the staff did not quite understand what I meant, so I opened my iPhone and turned off Bluetooth so VoiceOver would play through the phone speaker instead of my hearing aids. Suddenly, they could hear exactly what I hear.
As I swiped through the app, they heard the screen reader announce buttons and links. They also heard when something was not labeled clearly. That gave them a much better understanding of why accessible design matters. We still could not find the bill pay feature in the app, so they offered to help me through the main website. While we worked through it, I explained the challenges I was experiencing on the computer as well. The manager took notes and said they would share the concerns with their IT team.
Both employees were surprised by how proficient I was with my iPhone. I told them that when you lose your sight, you learn whatever you need to learn to stay independent. It is not always easy, but if your brain is still working—and mine usually reports for duty—there are many ways to adapt.
They were also curious about some of the features I use, and they asked how they could do similar things on their own phones. That made me smile. Sometimes accessibility tools designed for people with disabilities can make life easier for everyone—if people are willing to learn.
Accessibility Is Not Special Treatment
Accommodations are meant to accommodate the person who needs them—not to make the person prove they are worthy of being included. Accessibility is not special treatment. It is access. It is participation. It is the difference between being told, “We did not think about you,” and being welcomed into the room from the beginning.
Because of my training in Human Resources Management, I understand how often employers rely on first impressions when evaluating candidates. That can create barriers for people with disabilities. Questions like, “Can you really do this without vision?” may sound innocent to the person asking, but they can cross a line. The better question is, “What tools or accommodations help you do this successfully?”
Any organization that serves the public—medical offices, retail stores, schools, government agencies, banks, and employers—should train staff to understand disability etiquette, reasonable accommodations, and service animal laws. Staff should know what they can ask, what they should not ask, and how to respond with respect instead of confusion.
What Businesses and Communities Can Do
There is so much we can do when we choose to build accessibility into our workplaces, schools, services, and communities. It does not always require a major expense. Sometimes it starts with labeling a button, listening to a customer, training staff, or asking the right question. Try it—you might like the results.
Never underestimate a blind person. We may not do everything the same way you do, but we are problem-solvers by necessity, creative thinkers by experience, and determined because we have had plenty of practice.
The same is true for people with other disabilities, including those of us with hearing loss. Communication can be improved with the right tools, techniques, patience, and willingness to learn. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive community in Putnam County—one where people are not judged by assumptions, but supported by access, respect, and opportunity. If this post helps even one person rethink what accessibility means, then that is a pretty good return on investment.