Greeting cards have been a regular part of my life since childhood. I remember as a kid coming from the mailbox sifting through the numerous envelopes containing beautiful and colorful Christmas cards mostly from family members. I can recall the excitement and curiosity I felt when opening the card to see what type of decoration and message it would contain. Plus, discovering money as a Christmas present was even more thrilling.
After I went blind I continued the tradition with some minor changes. First I got my box of Christmas greeting cards. Next, I made a list of people I wanted to send them to on my computer using my screen reader. Next I would print out the list and solicit a sighted volunteer to help me label each envelope and prepare for mailing. This was a task I enjoyed year after year.
That was many years ago and today there are several options to send accessible greeting cards. I will share the most popular methods in this post.
1. Send a braille card.
When I first went blind over 20 years ago I didn't know much about braille cards. And when I did you had to go through a blind organization to get them. But today you can find braille cards at many greeting card stores. I did a simple internet search and found braille cards at sites like American Greetings, Amazon and Hallmark.
If like me, you are not a strong braille reader, you can still appreciate a braille greeting card. Most have short messages that I found easy to read Along with tactile designs or embellishments. I have received braille greeting cards and birthday cards from sighted friends, family and co-workers.
2. Send a large print card.
Along with braille greeting cards you can also send one in large print. Usually these cards have a large bold font making it easy to read for people who have low vision. They can be found along with braille cards in your local greeting card store or online.
3. Send a music card.
Don't read braille or can't see large print? Then send a singing or music card. These universal cards are enjoyed by most people regardless of vision levels. Many of them will play Christmas greetings with a small message in print.
4. Send an e-greeting card
Electronic cards, also called ecards, digital cards and virtual cards, are becoming more and more popular partly because of their convenience and ease of delivery. There is even an observance dedicated to electronic cards on Wednesday, Nov 29 called National Electronic Greeting Card Day. Websites like American Greetings, Blue Mountain and Hallmark will allow you to send a card directly to the recipient's email address. You can even customize the card by adding their name and a special written message.
These types of cards have popped up in my in box and were a joy to receive, especially when they were customized specifically for me. I found them easy to access and read. However, some of the ecards sites may have some accessibility issues when trying to send one. I read this review from the American Foundation for the Blind sharing the challenges sending greetings via three popular ecard sites.
5. Some Alternative Methods to Send Greetings
None of the above tickle your fancy? Want to be a bit more creative and unique? Here are some alternative ways to send your holiday greeting to a person with vision loss.
You can send a personalized video greeting by simply using the camera and mike on your smartphone. A singing voice message or one with a special recited poem can also be accomplished via smartphone. I remember one Christmas a friend sent me a greeting card using YouTube. It played festive holiday music with audio description of the images in the video. I had never received such an artistic greeting card before and was deeply moved by it. Doing a little research on this topic can provide a host of innovative ideas. The sky is the limit to what type of greeting card you can send.
Holiday Greeting Cards Image
Regardless of the method by which you send your holiday greetings just send one. People with vision loss will appreciate your care and thoughtfulness in wishing them a joyous holiday season.
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