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Your
home is easy to change, but you may be wondering about your
neighborhood. Most likely, your community has many features you may
not have noticed before to help you get around and stay active.
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Canes help people with vision loss get around without sighted assistance.
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Accessible Pedestrian Signals
In today's age, when cars are getting more and more quiet, it is
becoming critical that engineers and city planners think about the
safety of pedestrians with physical impairments, including low vision.
In many cities, older, smaller street signs are being replaced with
larger ones to help those with vision loss, and difficult street
crossings are being outfitted with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS).
APS provide sound and/or tactile information, which works with visual
pedestrian signals to let pedestrians who are blind or have low vision
know when the WALK signal is on. Audible APS signals include sounds
such as a rapidly repeating tone, speech message, or birdcall. New types of APS
provide a pushbutton locator tone that repeats once per second to help
blind pedestrians find pedestrian pushbuttons, which often must be used
to activate a WALK signal and to program enough time into the cycle for
pedestrians to cross the street.
APS provide information to help people with vision loss recognize the
beginning of the walk interval and begin crossing the street at the
correct time. Pedestrians who enter the crosswalk during the flashing or steady DON'T WALK signals are not crossing legally in most states, so it is
important to begin crossing when WALK is displayed. The Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA)
requires access to the public right-of-way for people with disabilities.
If you're an independent traveler with a visual impairment, some
intersections will pose little difficulty for you, but there are many
situations in which the information provided by the WALK signal and/or
an APS is necessary. These might include locations where the signal
cycle is complex and difficult to determine by listening, where special
pedestrian phases are installed, or where traffic is intermittent and
does not provide good cues.
If you feel there is an intersection or crossing in your neighborhood that needs an accessible pedestrian signal, request one by writing to the
jurisdiction in charge of signals in your community.
As always, it's best to learn how to take advantage of APS and other
street-crossing skills from an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist.
For
More Information:
All
Aboard: Accessible Mass Transit
Public
mass transit is one of the best and safest means of travel for people
with vision loss. Here's what you need to know to get the most out
of what options are available to you.
Get
on the Bus
Many
people with vision loss make regular use of their local bus system.
It's inexpensive, drivers are usually prepared to offer assistance
when necessary, and it requires no reservation or special
arrangements. Still, it's very important to plan for trips ahead of
time when using the bus. Call the bus company or public transit
authority and get correct information about what bus you need to
take, at what time, and on what side of the street you need to wait.
Without these details, you might easily take the wrong bus...or the
right bus going the opposite way! Confirm with the bus driver that
you have the right bus before you board to avoid such mishaps. Also,
be sure to have the correct change for bus fare, a list of phone
numbers in case of emergency, a cell phone (or money for a pay
phone).
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Public transportation helps people get around independently.
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Again,
the bus driver is there to help. Ask him or her to give you a
heads-up when the bus is approaching your stop.
Door-to-Door:
Para Transit
This
curb-to-curb service is designed to meet the needs of individuals who
find it difficult or logistically unfeasible to use the services of
the regular bus system offered by their home town or city. (In some
areas, conventional public transit is simply unavailable.)
Typically,
Para Transit services require that you fill out an application, which
provides specifics on your disability and how it affects your ability
to use mass transit. Some services require an in-person interview as
well. Once you are certified for Para Transit service, you are free
to use it, although many require calling ahead to provide time and
destination.
Regulations
for Para Transit vary depending on where you live so be sure to
contact your local transportation authority for more information, such as certification, fares, and scheduling
requirements.
For
More Information:
- Easter
Seals Project Action. Travelers Database
Search. Searchable by city, state, or zip code, the National Accessible
Travelers Database helps you find accessible transportation options
in your area.
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William Earl Tucker Video
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Vision loss doesn't have to work against you.
