Stacy L. Johnson

October 24, 2002

Dear Access Board:

I am a student at the Iowa Department for the Blind. I still have some vision, but am starting to learn how to do things independently as totally blind. I have walked streets and crossed streets with shades on. This program teaches us that we can be totally independent and not have to rely on other people or things to get us to where we need to go. I think this signal or beeper for crossings is NOT a good idea. Please put my input with others that are against this proposal. I understand that this proposal is for the safety for the blind. I don't think it will make things safer, you will be taking a part of their independence away, those signals cannot detect if someone will run a light, our hearing can hear if they are idling or stopped. Also, those signals will not detect if there are bikers, or turning traffic that does not see us. So please do not do this.

With many thanks
Stacy L. Johnson