[blindlaw] Navigating Sans Braille Signage

[Sanho Steele-Louchart]

Hello,

The hardest part is getting around the very first time. I tend to have someone go through with me that first time, and as we walk, I ask the room numbers in each hall. When the building was being made, someone, somewhere gave it room numbers, even if they were never attached to the doors. Each floor will have a number; 400, 500, 600, and so on. Each hall will have a number; the 420 hallway, the 430 hallway, etc. This can be disrupted with things like conference rooms, but you can still learn that with time. Finally, you can acoustically and tactilely landmark the door and the space around the door. Maybe it's near the end of the hall. Maybe it has a latch on the left, but is 6 inches from one with a latch on the right. Perhaps there's a nearby hallway intersection, or water fountain, or copy machine which always seems to be in use. 

Basically, sighted people learn to navigate spaces like that using landmarking, and the very first time, they're just as blind as we are... but conference room windows do help 😉

Feel free to reach out with more questions. My first life was as a totally blind mobility specialist. 

Warmth,
Sanho


> On Apr 10, 2019, at 6:12 PM, Singh, Nandini via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Anyone have tips for navigating in a work place with no Braille signage, i.e. finding particular offices or conference rooms? I figure it is like navigating when you are outside where there is no Braille either. I thought I would ask for additional ideas though.
> 
> Thanks,
> Nikki
> 
> 
> Nandini Singh
> 
> Covington & Burling LLP
> One CityCenter, 850 Tenth Street, NW
> Washington, DC 20001-4956
> T +1 202 662 5113 | nsingh at cov.com
> www.cov.com
> 
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