Sabra Pressman, Meaningful Access Specialist for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, joins us to discuss the process for obtaining a free currency reader. On the BEP website, you'll find the online application for receiving the reader, as well as links to the iOS and Android currency identification apps. To learn more, visit http://www.bep.org
Be sure to check our audio page for more exhibit hall coverage, and check out our new weekly podcast for news and features about technology and beyond. Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2015 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind. Enjoy our Podcasts? You can help us out by taking this very short survey.
Transcript
We strive to provide an accurate transcription, though errors may occur.
Hide transcriptTranscribed by Kayde Rieken
Welcome to BlindBargains.com coverage of CSUN 2015 — the biggest names, provocative interviews, and wall-to-wall exhibit hall coverage — brought to you by the American Foundation for the Blind.
VisionAware.org is a free, easy-to-use website for adults with vision problems. If you're having trouble seeing and don't know where to turn for answers, VisionAware provides you with expert solutions and advice. Learn about your eye condition. Get practical advice for working with vision loss. Discover how to keep doing all the things you love to do. Find help, hope, and connection at VisionAware.org.
Now, here's J.J. Meddaugh.
J.J. Meddaugh: We are here at the money booth — CSUN 2015 — the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It's Sabra Pressman. She is a Meaningful Access Specialist. I love these titles. (Laughs)
Sabra Pressman: (Laughs)
JM: And of course, you guys are giving away free currency readers now. Welcome to the podcast.
SP: Thank you, and thank you for having me on. I am giving away free currency readers. I'm representing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We're with the Department of Treasury, and we're giving away a free currency reader — if you haven't already received yours — to anyone that is blind or has low vision that would like one.
JM: So this started out — this, of course, the — the modern version of the — the iBill made by Orbit Research. And you guys started out the pilot program last summer — at the conventions — and last fall. And — but now you've moved into the — the mainstream of the program, right? So anybody — what's the process at this point?
SP: So at this point — you are correct. We did start out with the pre-pilot program. We partnered with the National Library Service to be our distributor for the currency readers because they have a large database of folks that use the iBooks and so forth like that — the E-readers. And we gave away currency readers at the conferences throughout the summer, and then we had a launch program for any NLS members. They could sign up early to get a currency reader starting January 2. That is when the national program rolled out to where everyone could get a currency reader regardless of whether you're an NLS member or not. So — so to date, we've given away about 20,000 readers and very excited to do so, but we know there's a lot more folks out there that haven't gotten theirs. So if you want to get a reader, you can go online to www.bep.gov and download an application, have it filled out, send it in, and we'll send you your free currency reader.
JM: I know there was some discussion on that. Are you going to have an online version? I know some people were having difficulty, accessibility-wise, downloading and filling out the application.
SP: Yes. Our online version right now is fillable; so you can fill it out online. You still have to mail it in, but it is — but it is fillable, so it's a little easier to type in all the information. And then, just — an authority needs to sign it to clarify that you are either low-vision or blind.
JM: Okay. So to clarify, this is the only way now. You can't go through the NLS anymore?
SP: Correct.
JM: Awesome. And 20,000. Do you know how many NLS members there are, or —
SP: I believe there's close to 400,000.
JM: So — wow. So you've only hit 5 percent of those people; and of course, not even everyone is an NLS —
SP: That's correct. But the applications I've been receiving every week — I receive about a thousand applications a week, and we're looking forward to getting those readers out and upping those numbers, and so everybody has another tool for accessibility until we do get a tactile feature on the U.S. currency.
JM: Sure. Speaking of tools, you also still have the — the mobile apps as well, and you updated your iPhone app over the past year?
SP: Yes, we have. We've updated the EyeNote app. It's available in the Apple App Store for free. It's used on iOS phones. It's — now has a scanning capability, so it's a lot quicker and very efficient.
JM: That's spelled E-y-e-note.
SP: That is correct. E-y-e-N-o-t-e.
JM: Is the Android version still available as well, or —
SP: The Android version that we have worked with the Department of Education is called the IDEAL Currency Identifier. And yes, it is still available. And it also was updated this past year.
JM: Awesome. Cool. So again, the — that website, the — bep.gov.
SP: Bep.gov.
JM: And the —
SP: You can get the links to the EyeNote and to the IDEAL Currency Reader Identifier, and to the application and more information about the currency reader program.
JM: Awesome. Hey, thank you so much for sharing.
SP: Fabulous. Thank you for having me.
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J.J. Meddaugh is an experienced technology writer and computer enthusiast. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in telecommunications management and a minor in business. When not writing for Blind Bargains, he enjoys travel, playing the keyboard, and meeting new people.
