index previous comment next comment

The folowing are resolutions unanimously approved by the 2002 convention of the NFB of Illinois. They concern Accessible Pedestrain Signals and Detectable Warning Strips.

If you have any questions please contact president elect, Cathy Randall at [ ... ].

A resolution to oppose the indiscriminate installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals at all intersections in the United States

Resolution 2002-01

Whereas, the Architectural and Transportation barriers compliance Board
(ATBCB) is currently considering proposed accessibility standards which would require that "Accessible Pedestrian Signals" (APS) which emit sounds, for the supposed purpose of telling blind people when it is safe to cross the street, be indiscriminately installed at all newly constructed intersections and all existing intersections whenever they receive substantial reconstruction throughout the United States; and

Whereas, we, the blind of this nation, have repeatedly told the ATBCB that we don't want noise emitting APS's because they do not promote our safety, rather they constitute a danger to us by covering the sounds of traffic and the general environment which are essential to our safe and efficient travel; and

Whereas, we have also repeatedly stated that there are only a very few intersections, in any given town or city, which cause us difficulty; and

Whereas, the cost of installing these devices throughout the United States is absurdly beyond the resource of our society; and

Whereas, this ill conceived drive to alter the environment rather than providing blind people with instruction in blind travel skills which enable many of us to travel effectively in the world as it is, is based on an outmoded, demeaning and paternalistic view of blindness; and

Whereas, altering the environment on behalf of the blind when it is not necessary to do so will cause increased discrimination against us, the blind, by fostering this attitude of paternalism among the general public; Now therefore

Be it resolved by the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, in convention assembled this twentieth day of October, 2002 in the City of Chicago, Illinois, that this organization strenuously oppose the indiscriminate installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals, and

Be it further resolved that we urge the ATBCB to limit use of APS's to those which use vibro-tactile signals and are self actuated rather than those which produce audible signals which are dangerous to blind people and offensive to everybody; and

Be it further resolved that we call upon the ATBCB to ensure that APS's, of any kind, only be considered for those few intersections which are determined, in collaboration with the blind, including the National Federation of the Blind, to require such devices, and

Be it further resolved that we express our continuing opposition to the insulting idea that it is acceptable to force society to undertake costly and unnecessary physical alteration of the world, in order to hide the inadequate state of rehabilitation services in our country.

A resolution to oppose the indiscriminate installation of detectable warning strips, at all pedestrian crosswalks

2002-02

Whereas, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
(ATBCB) is currently considering proposed accessibility standards which would require that "Detectable Warning Strips", made of raised truncated domes of a contrasting color, extending two feet from the edge of the curb into the side walk, be placed at all pedestrian cross walks and

Whereas, the supposed purpose of these detectable warning strips, is to worn blind people when we are leaving a side walk and stepping into a street; and

Whereas, we blind people, are able to both, cross virtually all streets safely and efficiently and determine when we are doing so; and

Whereas, the only cross walks that can be difficult for us to identify, are those with a slope of 1 in 15 (1" drop in 15" of length), which are virtually flat; and

Whereas, these Detectable Warning Strips interfere with efficient movement of our canes; thus making travel more difficult; and

Whereas, Truncated domes cause a slip and fall hazard, when wet or iced over; for blind and sighted people alike; and

Whereas, the cost of installing these strips is far beyond prohibitive; and

Whereas, this ill conceived drive to alter the environment, rather than providing blind people with instruction in blind travel skills, which enable many of us to travel effectively in the world as it is, is based on an outmoded, demeaning and paternalistic view of blindness; and

Whereas, altering the environment on behalf of the blind when it is not necessary to do so will cause increased discrimination against us, the blind, by fostering this attitude of paternalism among the general public; Now, therefore

Be it resolved in convention assembled this 20th day of October, 2002, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, that the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois oppose the indiscriminate installation of Detectable Warning Strips at pedestrian cross walks, and

Be it further resolved that we call upon the Architectural and Transportation Barriers compliance board to limit the use of detectable warning strips to those few cross walks which have a slope of less than 1 in 15 and then only when it is determined through consultation with representatives of the National Federation of the Blind, that such modification is necessary and would benefit blind people, and

Be it further resolved that we express our continuing opposition to the insulting idea that it is acceptable to force society to undertake costly and unnecessary physical alteration of the world, in order to hide the inadequate state of rehabilitation services in our country.