Berl Colley

October 28, 2002

I am writing to support the report from the Access Board, regarding audible signals, and detectable warnings.

There is a definite need for audible signals to serve as an additional information vehicle to people crossing streets. Audible Signals assist those who have not had the opportunity to have mobility training and have a vision loss. They also help people who have had mobility training as they provide additional information to that, obtained from listening. Senior citizens who do not have a vision loss find that audible signals help them cross streets at the right time.

an example:
Residents at the Panarama City retirement community in Lacey Washington, voted to have an audible signal installed on an intersection on the property. It wasn't just the desire of those residents with vision loss, but of the general population of the community.

Residents of the small Western Washington town of Squim, a place where many people choose to retire too, voted to have audible signals installed in there town, because they add an extra measure of safety for Squim residents.


Detectable Warnings

There are more and more intersections being built with flat corners, or with one wheelchair ramp facing the middle of an intersection. Detectable warnings assist as keys to canes or guide dogs to indicate that a street is about to be crossed. They also, give valuable information when crossing streets that have detectable warnings on an island or medium strip.

Berl Colley