IFB Beat – Week of January 2, 2024

A Message from the Editor

Happy New Years all! As one year ends and a new one starts, may this new year bring happiness and joy to everyone at IFB. All the activity and achievements recorded in The IFB Beat this past year wouldn’t have been possible without your help. Thank You!

Your editor is looking for new ideas and resources to share with you in 2024. If you have ideas or suggestions, I would love to get them. Just send me an email at apowell@ifbsolutions.org with your news and suggestions.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!

Anastasia Powell

IFB Solutions Communications Manager

apowell@ifbsolutions.org | 336-245-5698

Quick Links:

New this Week

– IFB Beat Reminders
– Announcing New Mentors at the Winston-Salem Facility
– See what S.E.E. is Doing!
– Adult Support Group Meetings
– CLVC Item of the Week

From Our Community

– Insider Corner

HR and Opportunities

– Benefit of the Month
– New Job Openings

Support Group Zoom Meeting Links

 

IFB Beat Reminders

The past few weeks have been packed with information, so here’s a few reminders in case you missed these updates:

Jeans Day Fundraiser

Apply for the 2024 Business Essentials Class at the Winston-Salem Facility by January 6

Winston-Salem Facility Mobile Mammograms – Sign up today

 

Announcing New Mentors at the Winston-Salem Facility

Thank you to Oryan Battis and Winter Robinson for volunteering to be mentors for our new hires at IFB Solutions in the Winston-Salem facility. They will begin with a training session and lunch. We appreciate both of them being willing to take time away from production to help new employees learn their way around and feel like they are a part of a team from the start. Way to go Oryan and Winter!

 

See what S.E.E. is doing!

During S.E.E. Christmas Camp, we made crafts and snacks for our families throughout the week.

On the first day “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”. We wrapped a plastic shoebox in Christmas paper ready to hole all our gifts. We made a card with candy canes taped in the shape of a heart to the front of our message in print and Braille.

We made ornaments out of cinnamon and applesauce, mixed/baked/decorated gingerbread men, and made a chocolate candy bar saying Merry Christmas in print and Braille. We made a wrapper for the candy bar with scented markers. All of these went into our boxes for our families.

We enjoyed Riss singing Christmas songs for us and a lunch from Chick Fill-A.

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

Reminder from the VIPS Support Group

Love to talk and voice your opinions? VIPS is hosting its first annual Speech competition April 16th, at noon in Tad’s room. Open to all Winston employees, enter to speak for your chance to win cash prizes of $100 for first and $50 for second place winners.

What do I talk about? Speech categories are inspirational, humorous, or educational. You have five to seven minutes for your speech. Each speech needs to be structured with an opening, body, and closing.

Rules:

• To compete, participants must attend three VIPS meetings for hands on experience starting January 16. If interested, please sign up by April 2.
• Upcoming VIPS meeting Dates to meet the three-meeting requirement: January 16, February 6, February 20, March 5, March 19, and April 2.

Contact Shonn Redmond in the Low Vision Center or Marcia Harton in the ACH Pads department for more information. Joel Schanker VIPS mentor, will offer his expert assistance with speech construction on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.

Upcoming Support Group Meetings

• Tuesday, January 2 = VIPS Club meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
• Wednesday, January 3 = RP support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.

CLVC Item of the Week:

Stainless Steel Spatula with Mahogany Handle for $11.95

The extra-long flat surface is the perfect tool for flipping, cutting and serving! Made of durable stainless steel with an attractive wood handle that is comfortable in the hand. Quickly turn and serve fish filets, large cuts of meat and hamburger, or use for hash browns, pancakes and breakfast meats.

If you are interested in purchasing Low Vision Equipment through our Loan Program (3rd Party), please contact a Low Vision Coordinator for assistance.

 

From Our Community

Insider Corner

This section is edited by Faith Harding. Reach out to her at fharding@ifbsolutions.org. 

Celebrating World Braille Day: January 4, 2024

Submitted by Kim Shoffner

Why do drive-through ATMs have braille?

Drive-through ATMs with Braille buttons have long perplexed many, giving rise to questions, jokes, and urban legends. After all, blind individuals don’t drive, so why would there be Braille on machines explicitly designed for drivers? As it turns out, the presence of Braille is based on a combination of practical, legal, and manufacturing reasons. This article delves into the explanations behind this seemingly contradictory design choice.

Standardization in Manufacturing

Perhaps the most practical explanation is that of standardization in manufacturing. ATM manufacturers often produce the same keypads for both walk-up and drive-through machines to save on production costs. Instead of making two separate models – one with Braille and one without – it’s more cost-effective to produce one model of keypad that fits all requirements. This uniformity in production simplifies the manufacturing process, quality control, inventory management, and even repair operations.

Accessibility Laws and Regulations

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar laws in other countries mandate that ATMs be accessible to people with disabilities, including the visually impaired. This means that all ATMs, regardless of their location or primary target audience, must be designed to be usable by as many people as possible.

What the ADA requires, according to the Department of Justice’s 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, chapter 7, is:

• Same degree of privacy to all
• Speech output is required
• Tactile input, numeric keypad with tactile indication of number 5
• Controls with defined tactile indication
• Braille instructions to initiate speech

These are just a few pointers as they pertain to blind people, but the regulation is actually much more complex. There are requirements which are not mandatory for drive-up machines, but they have to do with spacing and not related to the needs of blind people.

Blind Passengers and Non-Drivers

Just because a blind person doesn’t drive doesn’t mean they won’t find themselves at a drive-through ATM. A blind individual might be in a car with a friend or family member, and they might need to conduct a transaction independently. In this scenario, the presence of Braille allows the blind individual to operate the ATM without assistance.

Potential Future Re-Purposing

If an ATM originally designed for drive-through use is later relocated to a walk-up location, it would still need to meet accessibility requirements. By already having Braille on the ATM, the machine remains compliant with regulations and won’t need modifications.

Promotes an Inclusive Image

Beyond the practicalities, having Braille on all ATMs sends a message about inclusivity. By ensuring that even drive-through ATMs are accessible, banks and financial institutions emphasize their commitment to serving all members of the community, regardless of their physical abilities.

Conclusion

While the presence of Braille on drive-through ATMs might initially seem puzzling, there are several logical and well-intentioned reasons behind the decision. From manufacturing efficiencies to inclusivity and regulatory compliance, the design choice embodies a blend of practicality and a commitment to accessibility. It’s a clear reminder of the importance of designing with all users in mind, regardless of how counterintuitive the solution might appear at first glance.

https://evengrounds.com/why-do-drive-through-atms-have-braille/

 

 

HR & Opportunities

Benefit of the Month

This section is a monthly feature supported by IFB Solutions Benefits Supervisor Ciara Frenette. Reach her at cfrenette@ifbsolutions.org.

Guardian’s self-service options will save you time and keep you informed. We urge you to register on Guardian Anytime today!

Speak to a Guardian representative about your benefits and claims by calling the Customer Service Center at 1800-627-4200. You may also navigate to https://signin.guardianlife.com/signin/precheck/ to register for your Guardian Anytime account; where you can submit and/or view claims, print/view ID cards, view Explanation of Benefits (EOB), and more!

 

New Job Announcements

For all current openings, visit https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs?clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

For information about any employment opportunities with IFB Solutions please contact Brent Burkholder at bburkholder@ifbsolutions.org or X5611.

 

Zoom Meeting Links

Adult Support Groups Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/99498078576?pwd=ODJzK0sxcXZrME9yN25YRTdiNXBSQT09
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576
PASSWORD: 92638
One tap mobile
+13017158592,99498078576# US (Germantown)

13126266799,99498078576# US
+(Chicago)

Dial by your location.
877 853 5257 US Toll-free
888 475 4499 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576

 

Assistive Technology Support Group Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/94434630872?pwd=aXFYSHYyWkh1SE1tWDNOdDIwVURwUT09

Meeting ID: 944 3463 0872
Passcode: 924496

+13017158592, 99434630872, #, # US (Germantown)

+13126266799, 99434630872, #, # US (Chicago)