This is 2011, and I live in the IT capital of the country “Bangalore”. I did not expect that the city has ignored the significant number of people that live in the sight of darkness, some from birth and some like me who recently lost their eyesight due to a medical complication. The day I lost my eyesight I felt that my world had ended! And from a few perspectives it really did. I was surprised that our city does not help facilitate people with disability especially when it comes to banking with ATM’s. There are NO ATM’s that are blind friendly. It is not that complicated to adopt to an ATM machine that is voice enabled, however there are none in the IT capital. Are we to say that once you are blind, you have no rights over how to access one’s money?
I have experienced so many technological advancements that have helped me do regular things even after loosing my sight. But when it comes to getting money I still have to depend on a family member or a friend. I understand that there are some risks involved in implementing a talking ATM to help a visually disabled person (Also known as VIP – Visually Impaired Person) If minds are put together I am sure that it too can be achieved. There is news that there are talking ATM’S around the world. The world’s first talking ATM for the blind was an NCR machine unveiled by the Royal Bank of Canada on October 22, 1997 at a bank branch on the corner of Bank Street and Queen Street in Ottawa, Ontario. The talking ATM was a result of concerns Chris and Marie Stark, two blind customers, raised with the bank beginning in 1984. Their concerns turned into a discrimination complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 1991.
I feel that our civic authorities can also make a move and enable the disabled. Let me know what you think in this regard by posting your comments here. Thanks for reading!
