Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Holiday Shopping for the Blind

SLUG: HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR THE BLIND
Philip L. Graitcer

If you’re shopping this holiday season for a friend or relative who is blind, things like a flat screen TV or digital camera are probably not on the top of your list, but there are other items – like talking scales, scanners and games that could be just the thing for a person who has limited vision.

Philip Graitcer checked out some of these high tech holiday gift items.
_________________

Even though it’s cloudy outside, Desiree Reed is wearing a pair of s tinted sunglasses. She’s been blind nine years, and says that her blindness makes it difficult for others to find Christmas gifts for her.

T40 00:17 They don’t know what to get me. They'll give me different things like clothes or perfume or something like that, but they don’t really know what tools I need as a blind person.

Reed, who’s 21, had a rare brain tumor that caused her to lose her sight. She’s learned to use a red and white cane and develop other skills she needs for independent living. For Christmas, she wants gifts that can help her become more independent.

T40 00:43 Things that will help me in daily life, things that will talk to me or things that are in Braille that are adaptive for me to be able get through daily life like my sighted counterparts.

Like a scanner that reads grocery bar codes.

T44 Three ACTS of Scanned Bar Codes

Right now, Reed relies on sighted people to help her in the grocery store. With a scanner, she could shop by herself.

T44 0227 You can scan the groceries right in the store and you’ll know what you have.

She and I are at the Visibility Store in downtown Atlanta.

T66 ACT: Visibility, Penny, may I help you? Yes, we have talking watches and talking clocks. They start at 8.95 and for the atomic ones, they go all the way up to $59.99….

The Center for the Visually Impaired, opened the Visibility Store about a year ago as part of its mission to help the blind and visually impaired live independently. But according to Penny Dunn, the store’s manager, only about half of the customers are visually impaired.

T63 00:27 We have many people who come in and say, I could use this at home or my mom and dad could use this because they're getting a bit older

There are lots of high tech items like talking blood pressure cuffs, talking thermometers, and talking telephones. On special cellphone, the KNFB Reader, can scan newspapers and restaurant menus and read them back. It costs over two thousand dollars.

But most items are more affordable, and some are just fun.

Brian Clayton lost his vision 3 years ago in a motorcycle crash, today he’s checking out the Dora, the Explorer, talking crayons.

T45 00:55 Red spell it with me, R-E-D like the color of a red apple like the color….

Clayton thinks the crayons will be a great way he and his sighted young children can play together.

T48 0124 This is not only a toy but it also a tool because it assists me in helping them in what I am doing so I could tell them the right thing.

Clayton is 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighs over three hundred pounds. He’s also considering buying a talking bathroom scale.

T52 0143 I’m trying to lose a little weight, starting today, and hopefully this will help me keep track of my weight.

He steps on the scale.

T51 0231 Three hundred and thirty three point zero pounds. Hey Pavorotti, get off me! (check T9 0019, 0050)

And with the holiday eating season coming, this wisecracking scale may be just the kind of tool that will help him keep the pounds off.

For WABE, I’m Philip Graitcer

SLUG: HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR THE BLIND
Philip L. Graitcer - 404-872-7337
12/15/08

If you’re shopping this holiday season for a friend or relative who is blind, things like a flat screen TV or digital camera are probably not on the top of your list, but there are other items – like talking scales, scanners and games that could be just the thing for a person who has limited vision.

Philip Graitcer checked out some of these high tech holiday gift items.
_________________

Even though it’s cloudy outside, Desiree Reed is wearing a pair of s tinted sunglasses. She’s been blind nine years, and says that her blindness makes it difficult for others to find Christmas gifts for her.

T40 00:17 They don’t know what to get me. They'll give me different things like clothes or perfume or something like that, but they don’t really know what tools I need as a blind person.

Reed, who’s 21, had a rare brain tumor that caused her to lose her sight. She’s learned to use a red and white cane and develop other skills she needs for independent living. For Christmas, she wants gifts that can help her become more independent.

T40 00:43 Things that will help me in daily life, things that will talk to me or things that are in Braille that are adaptive for me to be able get through daily life like my sighted counterparts.

Like a scanner that reads grocery bar codes.

T44 Three ACTS of Scanned Bar Codes

Right now, Reed relies on sighted people to help her in the grocery store. With a scanner, she could shop by herself.

T44 0227 You can scan the groceries right in the store and you’ll know what you have.

She and I are at the Visibility Store in downtown Atlanta.

T66 ACT: Visibility, Penny, may I help you? Yes, we have talking watches and talking clocks. They start at 8.95 and for the atomic ones, they go all the way up to $59.99….

The Center for the Visually Impaired, opened the Visibility Store about a year ago as part of its mission to help the blind and visually impaired live independently. But according to Penny Dunn, the store’s manager, only about half of the customers are visually impaired.

T63 00:27 We have many people who come in and say, I could use this at home or my mom and dad could use this because they're getting a bit older

There are lots of high tech items like talking blood pressure cuffs, talking thermometers, and talking telephones. On special cellphone, the KNFB Reader, can scan newspapers and restaurant menus and read them back. It costs over two thousand dollars.

But most items are more affordable, and some are just fun.

Brian Clayton lost his vision 3 years ago in a motorcycle crash, today he’s checking out the Dora, the Explorer, talking crayons.

T45 00:55 Red spell it with me, R-E-D like the color of a red apple like the color….

Clayton thinks the crayons will be a great way he and his sighted young children can play together.

T48 0124 This is not only a toy but it also a tool because it assists me in helping them in what I am doing so I could tell them the right thing.

Clayton is 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighs over three hundred pounds. He’s also considering buying a talking bathroom scale.

T52 0143 I’m trying to lose a little weight, starting today, and hopefully this will help me keep track of my weight.

He steps on the scale.

T51 0231 Three hundred and thirty three point zero pounds. Hey Pavorotti, get off me! (check T9 0019, 0050)

And with the holiday eating season coming, this wisecracking scale may be just the kind of tool that will help him keep the pounds off.

I’m Philip Graitcer

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