National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey

When most individuals learn that someone is blind, they often assume it means complete or partial loss of vision. What they don’t realize is that the blind individual has only lost their physical vision, and still has the ability to use mental, tactile, and audio vision to interact with and understand the world. These nonvisual forms of vision not only help blind individuals thrive, but they also enable them to live full, independent lives.

What Is Mental, Tactile, and Audio Vision?

Mental Vision

Mental vision is the ability to imagine or visualize something in your mind, whether it’s a task you need to accomplish, a goal you want to reach, or a creative project you are working on. This type of vision goes beyond what can be seen with the eyes. Mental vision allows blind individuals to use their imagination and creativity to “see” possibilities, plan solutions, and create mental maps of their surroundings.

For example, blind individuals may use mental vision to plan a route through a new location, rehearse a presentation in their mind, or create a mental image of a painting or photograph. They rely on their mind’s eye to visualize the world in the same way sighted individuals use their eyes, which empowers them to make decisions and take actions confidently.

Tactile Vision

Tactile vision refers to using the sense of touch to explore objects or environments. For blind individuals, the sense of touch becomes an essential tool in understanding the world around them. Using Braille, tactile graphics, and other specialized materials, blind people are able to read and interact with information in ways that are just as effective as sighted individuals use their vision.

Examples of tactile objects that facilitate tactile vision include Braille books, LEGO bricks, 3D photos, and tactile maps. These tools allow blind individuals to gather information, process ideas, and navigate their environment independently. For instance, a blind person can use a slate and stylus to write Braille notes or feel the raised shapes on a tactile map to understand the layout of a space. Tactile vision enriches their world and promotes learning, communication, and independence.

Audio Vision

Audio vision involves the ability to understand and interpret the world using sound. For blind individuals, auditory cues and feedback provide essential information about their environment. This could include listening to descriptions of objects or surroundings, using screen readers to navigate websites, or utilizing auditory navigation apps to move through physical spaces.

Screen readers like JAWS (Job Access With Speech), NVDA (Nonvisual Desktop Access), TalkBack, or VoiceOver turn digital text into audio, allowing blind individuals to interact with technology, write emails, or surf the web. Navigation apps such as AIRA, Be My Eyes, and Seeing AI use audio cues to describe the world, guiding blind individuals through their day-to-day tasks with spoken descriptions. For example, a voice assistant might tell a blind person which bus is approaching, provide directions, or even describe a scene in a photograph.

Through audio vision, blind individuals can gain insight into their surroundings, stay informed, and interact with the world without relying on sight.

The NFB Philosophy

As the National Federation of the Blind’s one-minute message states, “Blindness is not the characteristic that defines a blind person and their future.” This powerful statement reflects the NFB’s long-standing belief that blind individuals can lead rich, successful lives. By learning how to use nonvisual tools and techniques, maintaining a positive “can do” attitude, and embracing an adaptable mindset, blind individuals can reach their goals and live life to the fullest.

This philosophy has been at the heart of the NFB’s mission since its founding in 1940. Through advocacy, education, and technology, the NFB works to break down barriers and change public perceptions about blindness, helping to create a world in which blind people have access to equal opportunities and the tools they need to succeed.

The Story Behind “Blind With Vision”

In 2015, when I was searching for a tagline for my company, Mackey Enterprises, I asked several individuals for their ideas and suggestions. During one of my workout sessions with Steve Murray of Rezults Never Lie, he reminded me that even though I might be blind, no one can ever take away my vision. This profound insight led me to create the tagline “Blind With Vision,” which aligns perfectly with the NFB’s philosophy.

This phrase represents the idea that blind individuals possess vision in ways that go beyond physical sight. It symbolizes resilience, creativity, and adaptability—the qualities that allow blind individuals to overcome challenges and live the lives they choose.

What Does “Blind With Vision” Really Mean?

The best way to explain the meaning behind “Blind With Vision” is through an example. Let’s consider a blind individual who needs to take notes independently. Here are some of the ways they might do this:

Using a slate and stylus to write notes in Braille.
Recording notes on a voice recorder and later transcribing them using a screen reader.
Using audio navigation tools like AIRA or Be My Eyes to guide them through new environments, or even recording a spoken summary of a meeting.

By using mental, tactile, and audio vision, blind individuals are able to “see” tasks and experiences from multiple perspectives. Whether they are working, studying, or engaging in personal activities, blind people use their nonvisual senses to approach challenges and find solutions that align with their abilities and strengths.

Living Life With a “Blind With Vision” Mindset

I encourage you to live the life you want by seeing things from a different perspective. Whether you are blind, low vision, sighted, deafblind, deaf, hard of hearing, autistic, or experience any other condition, it’s important to embrace a “Blind With Vision” mindset. The world is full of opportunities, and you can achieve your goals if you’re willing to use your unique vision to navigate challenges and embrace your potential.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t matter whether you are blind or sighted—the key to success is to think creatively and see the world through your unique lens. By adopting a “Blind With Vision” mindset, you unlock endless possibilities for personal growth and achievement. Embrace mental, tactile, and audio vision, and live a life full of purpose, fulfillment, and independence.

For most people, QuickBooks is a familiar tool for managing their finances. The software is designed for visual use, relying on point-and-click techniques for tasks such as generating invoices, writing checks, and reviewing reports.

But what about those who are blind, low vision, or print disabled?

Before 2013, managing finances with QuickBooks Desktop was a major challenge for blind users, especially those relying on screen readers. The software was not designed to be compatible with screen reading technology, making it difficult or impossible to complete key tasks such as writing checks, generating invoices, and reviewing financial reports.

I know this firsthand. To use QuickBooks Desktop, I had to combine ZoomText (screen magnification software) with JAWS (Job Access with Speech screen reader), but the experience was frustrating and inefficient. Navigating QuickBooks was a complex process, and I spent much more time than I should have completing simple bookkeeping tasks.

The Turning Point: MyBlindSpot’s QuickBooks Blind Scripts

In 2013, everything changed when MyBlindSpot, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on accessibility, introduced the QuickBooks Blind project. They developed a set of JAWS scripts specifically for QuickBooks Desktop, making it accessible for blind and low vision users. These scripts transformed the experience of using QuickBooks by enabling screen reader users to easily navigate the program with keyboard shortcuts.

Before the release of these scripts, blind QuickBooks users faced major barriers in performing even the most basic tasks. Now, thanks to QuickBooks Blind, blind users could access and utilize the software in a way that was previously impossible. Some of the tasks that became accessible included:

Writing and printing checks
Creating and sending invoices
Managing accounts payable and receivable
Running financial reports
Organizing and tracking business expenses

The QuickBooks Blind scripts not only made QuickBooks Desktop accessible but also helped me become more efficient in managing my personal company, Mackey Enterprises, LLC. They also opened doors to leadership positions within the National Federation of the Blind (NFB):

Affiliate Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey (2016–2018)
Affiliate Bookkeeper for the NFB of New Jersey (2019–present)
Affiliate Treasurer for the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania (2019–2024)

Accessibility in QuickBooks Online (QBO)

While QuickBooks Desktop required JAWS scripts for full accessibility, the cloud-based version, QuickBooks Online (QBO), is now built with accessibility features that are designed to work out of the box with screen readers. This development makes QuickBooks Online a great option for blind, low vision, and print-disabled users who prefer a more flexible, cloud-based solution.

Thanks to improvements made by Intuit in partnership with MyBlindSpot, QuickBooks Online has become fully compatible with popular screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver. This means users can now access their QuickBooks account through their browser and utilize a variety of bookkeeping features without additional tools or scripts.

For those who prefer QuickBooks Desktop, the QuickBooks Blind scripts are still necessary, but QuickBooks Online offers a more streamlined experience for users who rely on screen readers for day-to-day bookkeeping tasks.

Learn QuickBooks Blind with MyBlindSpot’s Virtual Lessons

To help blind users become proficient with QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Blind, MyBlindSpot offers over 60 Self-Paced Virtual Lessons. These lessons are designed to guide users step-by-step through key processes in QuickBooks, such as writing checks, managing invoices, and reviewing reports.

The virtual lessons cover essential tasks in QuickBooks Desktop and closely mirror the MyBlindSpot MBS User’s Guide, both of which were created by blind professionals with decades of experience in accessibility. The materials are based on 20 years of traditional documentation, ensuring that blind users receive training equivalent to that provided to sighted users.

Here are two example lessons:

Lesson 50 Writing a Check:

Lesson 56 Sending an Email Directly from an Invoice Screen:

These lessons are incredibly beneficial for individuals who want to master QuickBooks and build their confidence when using the software for personal or professional purposes.

Powerful Testimonials and More Resources

MyBlindSpot’s QuickBooks Blind project has been transformative for many users in the blind community. For an in-depth look at how QuickBooks Blind has changed lives, watch this powerful testimonial:

Additionally, for more lessons and detailed guidance on using QuickBooks with accessibility tools, check out the MyBlindSpot YouTube channel:
Visit MyBlindSpot on YouTube

To learn more about QuickBooks Blind, MyBlindSpot, and their commitment to making QuickBooks accessible for everyone, visit their official website:
www.myblindspot.org

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