Debbie Grubb
|
October 20, 2002 |
The Americans with Disabilities Act has broken down many barriers. One barrier
that still stands pretty firmly on its foundation is the barrier faced by
individuals who are blind and visually impaired, the barrier known as Access to
Information.
I am sure that you have received many letters proclaiming the glories of travel
with the long white cane and of receiving rehabilitation services in certain
enlightened rehabilitation centers that negate the necessity for tactile
warnings at street curbs and accessible pedestrian signals at intersections. The
issue of tactile warnings at curbs and accessible pedestrian signals at
intersections is clearly and simply access to information. Many blind people
have no concept of the multitude of signage that sighted people see and use
every hour of the day. Now technology exists that grants us the assurance that
we are at what well might be an undetectable curb. What is of supreme importance
to individuals who use wheelchairs proved to be often frustrating and dangerous
to people who are blind and visually impaired. This no longer has to be the case
because signage now exists that lets us know that the entrance to the street is
dead ahead. Now technology exists to let us know something that sighted people
have been told for decades--the walk light is initialized. Crossing busy streets
every day of my life and having known the joy and certainty of using accessible
pedestrian signals, I can tell you that knowing of a certainty that the walk
light is initialized takes a lot of the guess work out of crossing streets with
the constant movement of traffic due to right turn on red and green turn arrows.
No, these signals do not guarantee a safe crossing; but neither do walk lights
guarantee that for sighted people. Accessible pedestrian signals simply give a
vitally important piece of information that we are morally entitled to and
entitled to by the spirit of the ADA.
Congratulations to the Access Board for your wise and forward thinking
recommendations regarding tactile warnings at curbs and accessible pedestrian
signals at intersections. You have my support.
Debbie Grubb
index
previous comment
next comment