# How do blind people take notes? (Braille not an option in this sitch) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 4, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658 "2023-01-04T14:45:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/1 "2023-01-04T14:45:45Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Continuing story/update - newly blind person (now age 92)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continuing-story-update-newly-blind-person-now-age-92/976103): Mary Lou is actually doing pretty well, all things considered. Still 99% blind, but she can sort of see vague shapes and shadows if there’s a lot of light. She is an incredible person and is rising to the occasion valiantly. Good attitude and can get around the house pretty well with a walker. She hasn’t lost any mental acuity-- a 65-year career doing bookkeeping and tax preparation (up until last year) has kept the “little gray cells” in good shape. However, I don’t see (as it were) her learning Braille at this stage of the game. She turned 93 on Dec 10. One of THE MOST maddening things about not being able to see is not being able to write anything down. So she has to remember everything. Who can do that at any age, let alone a very advanced age when you’re already stressed to the max? As any of us who have ever recorded notes know, finding the note again is challenging–unless there’s some new technology I’ve never heard of. Is there? She has connected with a senior care agency, but of course, I came to The Dope, the Source of anything worth knowing about. Any practical suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/2 "2023-01-04T15:21:14Z")
I use my Notes app on my phone to leave written or voice notes. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/3 "2023-01-04T15:34:57Z")
If you were completely blind, how would you locate a specific voice note later? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/4 "2023-01-04T15:47:27Z")
There’s a bit of a ‘survey’ of the subject **[here](https://www.afb.org/aw/12/7/15915)**. While braille IS discussed, it isn’t the only thing. Somebody who can type by touch can often use text-to-speech to read the notes back to them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/5 "2023-01-04T16:12:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > If you were completely blind, how would you locate a specific voice note later If _I_ were completely blind I’d be up shit creek. Maybe use Siri to locate the note? I don’t use Siri much, but I’ve seen my gf (who works from home) working with two huge screens each with a dozen windows open, tell Siri to text someone without even looking at her phone. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/6 "2023-01-04T16:24:10Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > There’s a bit of a ‘survey’ of the subject **[here](https://www.afb.org/aw/12/7/15915)**. That’s the link that Mary Lou’s son sent me that prompted my post this morning. > [@kayaker](#): > > If _I_ were completely blind I’d be up shit creek. Pretty much. It is so incredibly INCONVENIENT!! Think of those times when you just need to jot down a phone number, or check your calendar, or read the freakin’ label on a package of food… AARRGGHH! 🤬 We’re hoping she can get some guidance from Lighthouse for the Blind. I know others have trod this path and there have to be ways to deal with the need to save and have access to the details of daily living. > [@kayaker](#): > > Maybe use Siri to locate the note? Mary Lou is sharpening her Siri skills. One thing she has a hard time with is remembering exactly WHAT command to give, 'cause, you know… **she can’t write anything down!** The other day I was _showing_ [sic] her something and I just burst out with, “This not being able to see is such a **BITCH**!” To which she heartily agreed. Mary Lou gets major points for keeping her own spirits up. She is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/7 "2023-01-04T18:42:33Z")
There are dedicated voice recorders (used to use mini tape cassettes, but are now digital). These might have tactile buttons (play, record, maybe they have next note/previous note) but that still leaves trying to find a specific note tricky. Brian ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/8 "2023-01-04T18:57:40Z")
Just as tricky as finding your favorite song on an old cassette tape. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/9 "2023-01-04T19:06:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The other day I was _showing_ [sic] her something You can say _demonstrating_ in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/10 "2023-01-04T20:10:16Z")
With siri, don’t you just make the first word of the note the subject of said note? F’rinstance “siri take a note, shopping, ground beef, sugar, flour, onions, shampoo…” Then you just recall the note with that first word, so if you need to add to it, it would be “siri edit note “shopping” garlic, chili powder, milk” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/11 "2023-01-04T21:34:16Z")
Ya don’t say… 🙄 In any case, I wasn’t **demonstrating** , I was attempting to **show** something. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/12 "2023-01-04T23:03:17Z")
It may help if she contacts a local organization or occupational therapist about how to deal with such thins. Hopefully there is someone that can be made available through her health insurance. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/13 "2023-01-05T01:05:55Z")
We’re working on that. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/14 "2023-01-05T08:08:05Z")
That would be demonstrating. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-blind-people-take-notes-braille-not-an-option-in-this-sitch/977658/15 "2023-01-05T14:22:31Z")
No, in this case, not.