Dan Hicks
|
October 6, 2002 |
I would like to go on record as opposing the draft guidelines as they
are now written. I am strongly against the proposed mandating of the
indiscriminate installation of "chirping" audible traffic signals and
unnecessary tactile barriers for the blind.
I, and my fellow blind Floridians, are among the hundreds of thousands of blind
people who travel safely every day without adaptations to the existing
environment. We have found that, in the vast majority of situations, the present
alternative methods of navigation we use constantly are more than satisfactory.
The nonvisual information which is normally available provides us full and equal
access without adaptations having to be made. Modifications should be considered
only when sufficient nonvisual cues are not otherwise available.
Thank you very much for your consideration of my comments.
Dan Hicks, First Vice President
National Federation of the Blind of Florida