Frank R. Casey |
September 8, 2002 |
This message is to register my support of
detectable warnings and accessible pedestrian signals. It is my sincere hope
that you, the members of the U.S. Access Board, along with the members of the
Public Rights Of Way Accessibility Committee will take into account the high
importance of detectable warnings and accessible pedestrian signals, as this
important concept plays an important part in protecting the lives of countless
numbers of blind and visually-impaired people, throughout the United States.
The normally-sighted public has traffic signals to tell them when it is save
to cross streets. I know of no reason, whatsoever, why blind and
visually-impaired citizens shouldn't have the same protection.
Please support the important concept of detectable
warnings and accessible pedestrian signals, in order that the lives of blind
and visually-impaired people will not be placed in needless jeopardy.
Cordially yours,
Frank R. Casey President, Capital District
Chapter,
American Council Of The Blind
Albany, NY
September 13, 2002
This message is in support of detectable warnings
and accessible pedestrian signals.
When a normally-sighted pedestrian walks across an
intersection, he/she has the advantage of taking advantage of a traffic signal
to cross that intersection, safely. As I'm sure you are aware that, in recent
years, technology has made available such devices as audible traffic signals
to allow blind and visually-impaired pedestrians to cross intersections in the
same manner as their normally-sighted counterparts. Most unfortunately, as
much as this technology benefits blind pedestrians, there are some segments of
the blind and visually-impaired community who would like people to believe
that audible traffic signals are unnecessary. Furthermore, these people claim
that the audible traffic signals deprive blind people of their dignity. I
will, briefly, comment on both of these two points. First, as far as the
thought that the audible traffic signals are unnecessary is concerned, the
very fact that there are traffic signals which allow normally-sighted
pedestrians safe passage through an intersection should dictate that, since
the technology is available, the same protection, audible traffic signals,
should be afforded to blind and visually-impaired pedestrians. Secondly: The
theory that audible traffic signals deprive blind and visually-impaired
pedestrians of their dignity is totally false, as it is a mistery to me how
any safety feature which could help save lives is going to deprive anyone,
blind or otherwise, of their dignity.
The truth is simple. Audible traffic signals do
work. I have used them, in Albany, New York, where I live. As a member of
our local blind community, I have found our audible signals to be very
helpful. Furthermore, if blind people choose not to utilize the audible
traffic signals, that is entirely up to them, however, the fact that some
blind people are not in favor of the audible traffic signals does not make it
wrong for those blind pedestrians who choose to use them.
In closing, I strongly urge the PROC in
conjunction with the U.S. Access Board to do everything in its power to ensure
that detectable warnings and accessible pedestrian signals be included in all
communities, in order that all blind and visually-impaired pedestrians may
feel secure as they cross intersections with their normally-sighted
counterparts.
Cordially yours,
Frank R. Casey President, Capital District Chapter,
American Council Of The Blind
Albany, NY
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