Cathy Randall
|
October 25, 2002 |
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.
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