[blindlaw] Navigating Sans Braille Signage

[Sai]

In my experience, braille signage has been the exception, not the norm, so
I'm not really sure how to answer your question that isn't just reiterating
general O&M techniques.

However, I'd mention a few things I've found helpful in a place I'll be
frequently:

1. ADA stuff

Especially if the building is newish, you could get HR to require Braille
signage be added, as an ADA issue.

You might also be able to get them to make you a tactile version of the
building map. Those are (I think) mandatory in visual form for fire safety
- nearly every fire exit has one - so all they need to do is pass that to a
tactile map making company.

Lastly, you could try asking for non-Braille orientation points, like
adding wind chimes with distinct sounds, or texturally distinct things on
walls & floors at key points.

That could be an aesthetic plus for the sighted people, depending on the
office aesthetic. They'll never think to propose it themselves, since it
just wouldn't occur to them as a orientation tool.


(I don't really know this side of ADA law, so if someone reading this does,
it'd be nice to know what could be compelled, separately from the "asking
nicely" approach.)


2. I try to get a *full* tour of the facility, in an order that works well
for connecting my mental map - e.g. going in full circles from outside in,
and insisting on following the full perimeter, not just the normal path
that a sighted guide would take. Includes every single door or other stable
object, not just what they think is relevant to you.

That includes "dead ends", which often have good orientation features that
they're totally unaware of. Plus you'll probably get into one sooner or
later, so it's good to recognize them.

This can take a whole day to itself, but it's extremely useful for
reorienting if you get lost and having at least a workable, if not
necessarily optimal, route between any two points. Knowing the door
numbering patterns is helpful.


3. Add your own Braille signage without asking permission.

I have a cheap label maker from RNIB - a Reizen RL-350. Handheld, cheap,
fast, dead simple to use sighted or blind, goes on clear tape that you can
put over sighted signage or on walls without interfering with them, and has
a nice crisp output (just be sure to squeeze hard when using it).

I also have Tacti-Mark (black). I've used that to e.g. add labels to touch
based door lock keypads, which are a huge pain to use otherwise.

You can probably get coworkers to help with such "guerilla improvements",
but of course depends on your culture etc.


Hope that helps,
Sai

On Thu, Apr 11, 2019, 00:48 Sanho Steele-Louchart via BlindLaw <
blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> 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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