Financial Independence for Blind Teens: Tools, Tips, and Tech
Financial independence is more than a life skill. It’s a gateway to confidence and personal independence. For families raising children who are blind or have low vision, the intentionality of teaching financial skills early is key for their future success. As we continue to move away from cash and towards apps for sending, receiving, and keeping track of finances, your child should be exposed to and comfortable with the technology.
Many of us rely on direct deposit and auto bill pay, which can cause us to forget the smaller steps we take to budget, plan, and save. Explore practical, real-world ways to prepare teens who are blind or have low vision to complete financial transactions. From handling cash at a store, using a credit card, budgeting, or making payments through apps, we have tips for you.
Why Financial Independence Matters
Being able to make financial decisions is empowering. When your teen is making decisions to save for an item they want and prepared for purchases they need, they are working toward a level of independence we are striving for. This level of independence offers:
- Self-confidence and free will in daily life
- Increased social inclusion by participating in shopping, outings, and activities with peers
- Preparation for adulthood, including employment, savings, and budgeting
- Greater security and privacy when managing one’s own money
Achieving this independence requires a mix of financial literacy, technology, and support. It starts with small and frequent opportunities to make financial decisions.
Challenges with Cash and How to Overcome Them
Cash transactions are often stressful due to:
- Difficulty distinguishing between bills and coins
- Risk of counterfeit bills or dishonest exchanges
Tips to succeed:
- Tactile cues: Many currencies have size or texture differences in banknotes. Products like the Pocket Money Brailler allow for the correct labeling of bills for your child.
- Coin recognition: Learn to distinguish coins by weight and edge texture.
- Currency ID apps: Apps like IDEAL Currency Identifier or NantMobile Money Reader use your phone’s camera to read aloud the denomination.
- Organized wallets: Use labeled compartments, rubber bands, or tactile markers to sort denominations securely.
Credit Cards and Debit Cards: A Smart Alternative
For many teens, using a debit or credit card is simpler and safer than handling cash.
Accessible card features:
- Custom card sleeves or stickers to differentiate between cards
Best practices to teach:
- Memorize your PIN, and don’t write it down.
- Use a mobile banking app with audio feedback to track balances and transactions.
- Learn how to lock your card via your bank’s app if it’s lost or stolen.
Credit cards can also help build a credit history, preparing teens for larger purchases and future financial decisions. Many credit card companies will allow you to add your teen to your account to help them build credit and responsible financial decision-making skills.
Most major banks now offer apps that are compatible with screen readers, such as VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android).
Accessible features include:
- Audio feedback for account balances and transaction history
- Mobile check deposit with guided photo capture
- Budgeting and savings goal tracking
Popular banks with well-rated accessibility features include:
Always enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and set up alerts to monitor activity in real-time. Encourage your child not to use their phone on speaker, but instead to use AirPods or other devices to prevent sharing personal information through speaker mode on their phone.
To learn more about managing money, credit cards, and banking when blind or low vision, read Banking, Managing Finances and Credit Cards When Blind or Low Vision – ConnectCenter.
Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App)
Teens today often use peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps to split lunch costs, pay for rides, send money for birthdays, or receive allowance.
Things to know:
- Zelle is often integrated with your bank’s app and offers instant transfers.
- Venmo and Cash App are popular for sending money, buying items, and tipping.
Accessibility tips to teach:
- All three apps support screen readers, but usability can vary. Test them out with guidance first.
- Ensure names and contacts are clearly labeled to avoid sending money to the wrong person.
- Keep your accounts private and turn off social features (especially on Venmo) for enhanced privacy.
Apps for Children and Families: Greenlight, GoHenry, and Others
Apps like Greenlight and GoHenry are designed for teens to manage allowance and build money habits with parental oversight.
Key features:
- Chore tracking and rewards
- Parental spending controls
- Accessibility varies: screen reader testing is encouraged
These tools can serve as a great entry point into financial responsibility, while still offering support and structure.
Digital Wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Contactless payment is convenient and hygienic. It’s also highly accessible for users who are blind or have low vision.
Benefits:
- No need to carry cash or cards
- Biometric security (Touch ID, Face ID)
- Clear voice or haptic feedback on confirmation
Use tips:
- Set up with assistance to ensure accessibility settings are optimized.
- Practice paying at a familiar store before using it independently.
Building Financial Literacy from a Young Age
Early exposure to financial concepts builds lifelong confidence.
Accessible ways to learn:
- Use tactile learning tools: real coins and raised-line graphs.
- Explore games about money.
Topics to focus on:
- Understanding needs vs. wants
Financial literacy should grow with the teen, becoming more nuanced over time.
Staying Safe: Fraud, Privacy, and Personal Advocacy
Financial safety is just as important as independence.
How to stay safe:
- Avoid giving out financial info over calls, emails, or texts.
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) on all apps.
- Know how to lock accounts or cards in case of loss or theft.
Privacy matters:
- It is important for your child to know both why and how to keep their information private. Discuss what could happen if someone can access their financial information and what to do if they think someone has accessed their information.
- Learn how to use audio feedback with earbuds or braille displays discreetly.
Self-advocacy tips to teach:
- Practice speaking up in stores, banks, or online support chats to build your confidence.
- Learn to request accommodations when needed (e.g., accessible statements or in-person banking support).
- Build confidence through role-play with trusted adults or mentors.
Effective money management relies on organizational tools.
Ideas include:
- Tactile markers, Velcro dots, or rubber bands to label bills/cards
- Voice memos or smart assistants to set reminders for bills or savings
- Budgeting apps that offer audio output or screen reader compatibility (e.g., Mint, YNAB)
Consistency is powerful; encourage a routine, just like you have for checking accounts, paying bills, budgeting, and other financial tasks.
One Family’s Story
Teaching your child money management skills can be challenging when, as adults, we rarely use cash and opportunities for cash exchanges are becoming less frequent. We discovered the difficulty of paying for chores with cash, simply because we didn’t have cash on hand. At one point, we even tried adding our kids as “bill pay” recipients so they could receive checks—but that added the extra step of going to the bank to cash them.
Eventually, we opened bank accounts for both children when they were ready. It became much easier to transfer money directly to their accounts. Both children could access their accounts online and track what money was coming in and what they could spend on things they wanted. At our bank, teens can receive debit cards starting at age 13, which created another opportunity for them to spend—with our support.
We’ve found that the banking app is the most accessible way for our younger child to check her account. Just like we were excited to be paid in cash when we were younger, she now gets excited when family members send birthday money directly to her account.
While managing finances digitally might seem like a daunting shift, remember: your child can feel just as thrilled seeing a deposit in their account as you once felt when someone handed you cash for a job well done.
With the right tools, knowledge, and support, young adults who are blind or have low vision can manage their finances just like anyone else. Whether it’s swiping a credit card, using a banking app, or speaking up at a store, each small step builds confidence and control.
Financial independence is essential to your child’s future independence. With today’s accessible technology and growing awareness, there is no limit to what these young individuals can achieve.