MY NAME IS TOM AND I AM VISUALLY IMPAIRED. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENACT NATIONAL LAW REQUIRING THE USE OF DETECTABLE WARNING SIGNALS AT PUBLIC LOCATIONS OF DANGER TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEDESTRIANS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO OPPOSE SUCH LEGISLATION AND I DO NOT SEE HOW THERE CAN BE LOGICAL OPPOSITION TO THIS SIMPLE REQUIREMENT. ANY SUCH OBJECTION IS, IN MY OPINION, WITHOUT CONCERN OR COMPASSION

FOR LOW VISION PEOPLE. CAN YOU IMAGINE ANYONE ASKING A LOVED ONE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT TO WALK IN DANGEROUS AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE DETECTABLE

WARNING SIGNALS?

AS A PERSONAL EXAMPLE I KNOW A YOUNG BLIND LADY WHO NEVER HAD VISION AND

WHO IS AN EXPERT USER OF A WHITE CANE. SHE WAS USING AN ELEVATED

WALKWAY THAT HAD NO WARNING STRIPS AND SHE FELL SEVERAL FEET, BADLY

INJURING HERSELF. EVEN EXPERTS CAN MAKE MISTAKES AND WHEN THE RESULT IS BODILY INJURY OR EVEN DEATH THERE CAN BE NO EXCUSE FOR LACK OF THE APPROPRIATE WARNING SIGNALS.

I AM INTERESTED IN THE ENACTMENT OF NATIONAL LAWS THAT MANDATE THE USE OF DETECTABLE WARNING SIGNALS IN AREAS OF PUBLIC USE WHERE SEVERE INJURY CAN RESULT TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEDESTRIANS.

MAY I SUGGEST A LITTLE EXERCISE THAT WILL MAKE MY POINT. GO WITH A FRIEND TO A RAIL STATION THAT HAS NO WARNING STRIPS ON THE EDGE OF THE TRAIN PLATFORM. BLIND FOLD YOURSELF AND EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND THE HORROR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY FIND THE EDGE OF THE PLATFORM WITH THE ATTENDENT DANGER OF FALLING ONTO THE TRACKS. THIS EXPOSURE TO THE EVERY DAY LIFE OF A BLIND PERSON OUGHT TO MAKE A BELIEVER OF ANY SANE INDIVIDUAL WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE OPPOSED TO THE USE OF DETECTABLE WARNINGS.

NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TACTILE WARNING STRIPS, STRIPS THAT CAN BE DETECTED BY A CANE OR UNDER FOOT, BUT WE ALSO NEED BRIGHTLY COLORED STRIPS OF

YELLOW OR ORANGE TO PROVIDE VISUAL DANGER SIGNALS TO FOLKS WITH LOW VISION LIKE MYSELF.

I HUMBLY ASK YOU TO EXERT YOUR INFLUENCE WITH THE U.S. ACCESS BOARD ON THIS ISSUE AND TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROWAC

COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH THE NECESSARY REGULATIONS. THIS IS OF MAJOR

CONCERN TO ME.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME BY RETURN EMAIL.

THOMAS H. SLACK
CONCERNED CITIZEN

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