To Whom It May Concern:
I am blind, but I am also an American taxpayer! I am strongly opposed to
your June 17 proposed rules which would require that, to "help" the blind,
our government would require detectable warnings at every street corner or
accessible traffic signals at every traffic light.
What blind people need is high-quality training, not gadgets and gimmicks!
The enormous financial cost to the American taxpayer far outweighs any
supposed benefit to the blind. Trained blind people cross busy streets
"just as they are" every day, but an outraged American taxpayer won't be so
eager to hire them if this high cost is heaped upon them.
Personally, I have experienced audible signals on a university campus in
south Louisiana and have found birds mocking the audible signals. This has
caused problems with blind students that does not have other skills than
using the signals. Therefore, spending the amount of money on the audible
signals would be better spent on training people who are blind at a training
center. I have received training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind and
can travel anywhere I want without being afraid of crossing streets or
finding my destinations. I would not want to be limited to living or
traveling in areas that have audible signals. So, I am asking you to not
support the June 17 proposed rules which would require that, to "help" the
blind, our government would require detectable warnings at every street
corner or accessible traffic signals at every traffic light.
Jewel Lightfoot