Often, I am asked, “If you are blind, how do you put the return address and to address on an envelope?”. The simplicity of the answer may surprise you!

Even though this is the time of email, tweets, and video, there are still times one needs to write their name and address on an envelope. Most times, I only really need to do this when paying bills and sending holiday cards. In any case, not being able to see print doesn’t stop me from using envelopes.

I will present a few options I have used over the years that have made the process of how a blind person can address an envelope very simple.

One of my favorite methods is to use preprinted labels. If there’s an address you write too often, it is a simple matter to print up a bunch of sticky labels ahead of time and use those for the return and send to addresses. The lettering is tidy and very easy for both machines and humans to read.

Another method I use that enables a blind person to address envelopes is to use a rubber stamp for the return address.

Just go to your nearest office supply store and order one with your address embossed on it. You can choose between self-inking or ones where you must use an inking pad to wet the stamp before you use it.

Getting the stamp where you want it on the envelope is easy. Using the edges of the envelope, hover your stamp in the general location where the address should go. Lower the stamp until it makes firm contact with the paper. Then, lift the stamp and you are done.

Here is another tip. You can also have a stamp created with your signature embossed on it. Using the same technique as with the envelope edges for putting the stamp in the right place, you can put your signature on credit card receipts, documents, and any other place your John Handcock is required.

Like signature guides for writing signatures, there are address guides for filling in addresses. Whereas a signature guide just has a single opening for writing your name, an address guide has multiple openings where you can fill in the person’s name, address, city, state, and zip on separate lines.

Like most challenges, the blind face, finding solutions is usually easy and only requires a bit of thought to discover. For some, addressing an envelope as a blind person would be considered impossible by those who are stuck in a particular way of thinking. Success will come to those who are open to new ways of thinking about challenges.