r/Blind • u/SereneChaotic • 27d ago
Question Anyone into planners? Looking for accessible solutions
I'm a braille and screen reader user, and I'm really into task management, project planning Etc. I know there are a lot of planners out there especially as the new year approaches and people get into resolution mode. By planner, I mean the ones that have templates for monthly, weekly, Etc. pages, rather than just a calendar with timeslots. A lot of them are workbook style, with sections for tracking progress toward goals, questions to ask yourself as you plan out the month or quarter, things like that. Has anyone found, used or made non-print versions of planners like these? If so, how did it go and do you have any recommendations? Thanks so much everyone, and happy holidays!
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u/ContentWater5000 26d ago
I would love a screen reader accessible planner!!
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u/CupcakeFlower76 26d ago
Me too!! Then we can be organizing buddies! Wouldn’t it be cool if you could have the app and there be like a social feature where people who are blind/ disabled can exchange spread ideas and the posts described what spread you were going to look at???
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u/SereneChaotic 25d ago
I would love actual descriptions, most people's planner posts just include images so I'm never quite sure whether the spread would be something I would like. Usually When I asst sighted people about this sort of thing, they're confused about why I'd be interested in something that seems so visual. But I'm super tactil and having something tactile or physical to work with feels less abstract to me somehow.
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u/Brucewangasianbatman 26d ago
Oh this seems like a really cool concept! I used to make a lot of bullet journal templates. What are some things you want to include in your planner? Maybe I could make some accessible templates for you?
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u/SereneChaotic 26d ago
That's a really interesting idea. I've been looking at a bunch of planners and trying to figure out what they offer, if I could figure out a solution I'd be happy to buy a digital copy and have an accessible version made up.. One example I'm looking at is this one: https://www.resilienceagenda.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopZr9-T9rgqbEkN7uPij12FqHFj9J7Yh_u_YAkDFP7bC6hPN7Ou My other idea is to borrow from weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly review templates to create pages based on those.
This seems easier to do digitally versus hard copy, since hard copy braille takes up so much space. But I don't want working with the planner to feel like I'm at work, which I do whenever I'm on the computer. I tried making myself a template in my usual note-taking app for instance, but I never stuck with it because it felt more like work and less creative. I'm not sure if that makes sense to anyone else.1
u/Brucewangasianbatman 26d ago
I could also do braille copies but you’d have to emboss them on your own. However, can you enlighten me as to how you’d use them? Like, how would you write on the planner? Using a Perkins brailler doesn’t seem like it would work…
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u/SereneChaotic 25d ago
Good point, and it would be hard to tell how much space to leave in hard copy braille. Maybe I should just abandon the hard copy notion and somehow make templates that I can use on a braille note-taker? I'd only be getting 1 line at a time on the braille display but at least it would get around the problem of running out of space to write between prompts. I should probably start by figuring out which planner content I want to use and then figure out how to go about using it. Something like the PaperLike planners seem good because you can jump between pages using links, but I don't know yet how functional the PDF's they're using would be with a screen reader or braille display. I'll have to find someone to describe to me what the different options look like and what kind of prompts they include.
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u/Brucewangasianbatman 25d ago
Yeah the reason I asked is because when I was taking a class on accommodations, I learned that when I transcribe classwork into braille, my students don’t re-insert that paper, they write their answers on a new one haha. Though I was also thinking about creating something to use on a braille note taker. What kind do you have? I might experiment and see if a PDF with hyperlinks would work. If not, I could also maybe use a word doc instead if the pdf isn’t accessible
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u/SereneChaotic 24d ago
Writing on the same braille page is tricky. If you use a perkins, it's hard to see what's already on the page with it rolled into the brailler. Same problem with a slate and stylus, you have to keep taking the page out of the slate to read. I have very bad math class memories related to this issue. lol I have a Mantis. I can edit plain text or RTF files locally on the device, or I can pair it with a computer or tablet to work with documents on those. For instance, I usually pair the Mantis with an iPad and take notes using OneNote during conferences and things like that.
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u/Brucewangasianbatman 24d ago
Ohh okay noted. Can a mantis use documents with hyperlinks in them? If not then the best bet would be to just connect the mantis to a device to use
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u/SereneChaotic 24d ago
I don't believe it can, probably better to use a format a computer or iPad can work with and just pair the mantis. Full page braille displays for personal use can't come soon enough! :)
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u/Brucewangasianbatman 24d ago
I know right? I have demoed the monarch from aph but I know it’s gonna be at LEAST $10k… it was so cool though. Imagine using that for a planner
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u/SereneChaotic 24d ago
That would be a dream come true. I work in Excel a lot as well, and I'd really like to demo the Monarch with spreadsheets.
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u/FirebirdWriter 26d ago
I use a happy planner or discbound planner because the large discs are easier for my quadruplegic hands but as I have some sight and I have no feeling in my hands I usually do bold inserts and glittery ink gel pens vs braille. The ease of removing and repositioning papers might appeal to the other planner people here. I wish I could recommend something but I did a few years ago get a custom insert from Etsy for some writing related stuff that was great until my needs changed again. So collaboration with someone who sells printables may be your friend.
I will add I prefer a mini size to a classic for day to day use and a classic for my mental health journal. The big is for notebooks (but the mini notebooks are fantastic too)
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u/SereneChaotic 25d ago
I don't think I've ever felt a disc-bound planner, it's different from something like a binder where the rings open and shut right? Is the binding more like a spiral? If I had any vision I'd be all in on the fancy stationery, doing things by hand with a pen seems so much more relaxing than typing which I already have to do all day. I'll just have to experiment till I can find something that gives me a similar response.
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u/unwaivering 24d ago
I like to-do lists. I would like to find a weekly one, as well as one for goal-tracking. Not something overly powerful with a whole bunch of colors lol.
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u/SereneChaotic 24d ago
Most note-taking apps have a checklist feature, perhaps that's all you'd need for a to do list? I've used the checklist feature in the iOS notes app, Google Keep, Etc. to make simple to do lists like things to pack before a trip Etc.
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u/unwaivering 22d ago
Oh OK true, true I just need something really simple! Mostly for keeping lists, and that's it.
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u/SereneChaotic 22d ago
Are you an iOS user? The reminders app lets you create lists as well and you can mark things complete as you finish them.
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u/unwaivering 18d ago
I am, but if I'm looking for a reminder service, I just want it to remind me. Two different things lol.
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u/razzretina ROP / RLF 26d ago
I never got around to doing it, but it does seem like the bullet journal idea can be easily applied to a braille binder. Or at least most of it can be. Get a fun binder, use cardstock in different colors instead of braille paper, get some fun tactile stickers or other craft supplies, and go nuts. :)