I tried to do a search on this topic, but was informed that I do not have access to the search page.
My bank (B of A) has PIN pads at the drive-up ATMs. The number keys have Braille legends, along with the numeric data.
Any reason that a bank would encourage blind patrons to use a drive up ATM?
No response from the bank yet.
Simple. Some of their ATM’s need braille to serve blind customers in lobbies and things. There is no need to eliminate this feature from the other ATM’s. It would cost money to make braille free ATM keys and no reason to do so. Therefore, you see ATM’s with braille keys even in places where a blind patron is likely to use it. Besides, they can’t absolutely prove that a blind person won’t walk up to one of those machines and that could be an ADA violation.
Cecil did a column on this: Why is there braille on drive-up teller machines?
Also, some past threads:
Strangely the ATM’s at the local citibank walk in center don’t have Braille on their keys. I assume that a Braille ATM would also have sound output to tell the blind user what is happening with their account. Or is there some other way that blind users can make use of ATMs?
Thanks for the info/links, folks.
Oh, this would be a fabulous idea. I can see it now:
*(loudspeaker)
Your current account balance is: $412,053.97
How much would you like to withdraw?
You chose “$1500”. Is this correct? Processing…*
On the ATMs I have seen there is a place for someone to plug in a headset to allow feeback but avoid the problems Rigamarole talks about. Often times there is a cover with some Braille on it that can be slide aside to allow the headset to be plugged in.
As a side point, ATMs are expensive. If you want to close your branch on the corner of Opal and Adams, you won’t be throwing the ATM away… you’ll likely be relocating it to your other branch.
ATMs engineered for drive-up operation do sometimes wind up redeployed on sidewalk-only applications. It works fine as long as the installers remember to account for the height of the intended user vs a guy in a car, driving on a sidewalk.
Brilliant - thank you!
By sound output I did mean a port for earphones, though I see how I was unclear. Still if she’s got $412,053.97 in the bank she can afford to have her buttler go out and get the money for her from the bank. Also who gets to withdraw $1500 from a bank ATM, is that a special feature for people with 6 figure dollar amounts?
(AU) I’ve withdrawn $1500 from an ATM before. In fact, I’ve withdrawn somewhere in the vicinity of 2.5k (for my hubby’s Visa application) in one go. That left me with $5 in the bank. It all depends on the limits that your personal bank sets for transactions.
SI,
And on the ATM. Some ATM operators choose to cap withdrawal amounts.