Terri Hedgpeth

October 7, 2002

I have so much to say on this issue that I'm not sure where to begin. Audible light signals are a passionate point for me as a professional working with students who are blind and personally as a person who is blind. I don't belong to any of the consumer groups that propose to speak for the blind, but if I did the American Counsel of the Blind (ACB) would be my choice. One might say that the most vocal group on this issue is the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), who's total membership makes up less than 1.5% of the adult working age blind population. They would have you believe they are the majority, that is far from the truth.

They, the NFB, argue that blind people just need the proper training to learn how to cross streets safely and to determine hazard areas such as subway platforms. Yeah right! Can you imagine how far that logic would fly if you applied it to sighted pedestrians safety??? The government would be sued in a heartbeat. By such logic there would be no need for painted lines that debark safe zones on train platforms. There would be no need to have the signal lights that display the red, green or yellow for all to see. Rather all cars could simply have the capacity to display that information on the dash for only the drivers to see. Pedestrians could just guess and judge by traffic flow when they should cross the street. You and I know that would never happen, because such practices would compromise pedestrian safety.

Why aren't blind people entitled to the same level of expectations for the safeguards and protections regarding their safety as sighted persons are allowed? Such protection by the government is not custodial, it is their right as citizens blind or not.

If I could afford it, I would be there in Portland on Tuesday October 8th to speak in person and to counter the NFB members that are planning to be there to demonstrate against my right as a citizen to have the same safeguards as sighted people. My right to have access to the same information as sighted pedestrians as much as is possible. That's what audible light signals and tactile indicators provide.

My home address is 1086 East Frost Drive; Tempe, AZ 85282

Terri Hedgpeth
Student Support Specialist, Sr
Disability Resources for Students
Matthews Center