Edwin Mercado

October 18, 2002

I am commenting on the draft guideline proposal that is due by October 28, 2002.

On the subject of audible traffic signals, I would like to say that it would be a waste of tax dollars to put these signals on every signal that has a walk sign. They don't help us people who are blind or visually impaired. Even though I can see a little, I rely on my hearing when crossing a street. When there is that much extra noise when crossing it makes it hard to pay attention and more dangerous than it would be without the audible signals.

I have only experienced the audible signals that were recently installed in Albany, but I understand that there are other types that make less noise than the coo coo tweet tweet kind and even then it's a waste of money to put them in crossings that are easily navigated by using the flow of traffic.

If blind people are ever to be treated equally, it won't happen by altering the environment. If this happens, then every time a blind person will apply for a job, the employer will think of those signals and think that they will have to alter the work place to accommodate the blind employee. Every time a blind person will go to a fast food restaurant, someone will feel like they have to give the blind person extra help. This will set back blind people's progress by decades.

One answer to those who feel like they need the extra help in crossing streets is to get additional mobility training. I had lost more of my sight recently to complications of diabetes and had to get use to not seeing as much as I did before. I was afraid to travel alone for a while. My mobility training reinforced what I already knew and gave me the confidence to get back out on my own.

Those who feel these signals are helpful are people, like I was for a time, not traveling alone in need of special assistance. In that case the traffic signals are no help to them, because they aren't traveling independently.

I have never encountered detectable warnings either, but myself and other blind people I know have no trouble telling the difference between sidewalk and street. For one thing, sidewalk has a different texture than the street and is easily detected by using a white cane. Guide dogs are trained to stop at the curb and await the user's command. Legally blind people who travel without a cane and can see enough have no trouble telling the difference.

I think the cost of the proposed changes would be better spent on other services for the blind and wouldn't cost as much as these changes that are proposed.

Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion.

Edwin Mercado