Arlene Cohen
 October 24, 2002


I am blind and have just retired from teaching. I belong to many organizations, and travel throughout my community and the country. I daily cross streets that are dangerous, because I can not see the walk signs. I listen for parallel traffic and then step off and cross. Several times, I have been caught in traffic. I cannot tell you how frightening those experiences were for me and for my guide dog. When lights are fully actuated, the danger increases dramatically if you can not see the walk sign. If the actuated lighting systems were accessible, I would have access to the same information as a sighted person. Accessible pedestrian Signals evens the playing field when crossing the street. We need the same information as a sighted person, but we, of course, need it auditoraly, not visually. With the advent of electric-gas cars, those of us who are blind or visually impaired will be at a significant disadvantage and in extreme danger, because we will not be able to hear them, nor will we be able to see them.

Please help us to have safe access when crossing streets in our communities and throughout the country.

Sincerely,
Arlene Cohen
President, American Council of the Blind of Ohio
 

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