[IL-Talk] FW: Blind Participants Needed for University of Illinois at Chicago Tactile Map Research

[davant1958 at gmail.com]

FYI.

Please see below.

 

 

Denise R. Avant, Esq.

President,

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

773-991-8050

Live the life you want.

 

For more information about NFBI,

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org

 

From: Blake, Lou Ann <LBlake at nfb.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 8:16 AM
To: State President, Illinois <davant1958 at gmail.com>
Cc: Dubnow, Stacie <SDubnow at nfb.org>
Subject: Blind Participants Needed for University of Illinois at Chicago Tactile Map Research

 

Hello Denise,

 

I would appreciate it if you could post the below announcement to the appropriate affiliate and chapter lists that reach members who live in the Chicago area. This research has been approved by our research advisory council. Thank you very much!

 

Lou Ann

 

The below research participant solicitation is being provided for informational purposes only. The National Federation of the Blind has no involvement in this research, but we believe that it may contribute to our research mission.

 

Hello,

My name is Bryan Moles. I am a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist. I’m looking to research how 3-d printed tactile maps can improve orientation and mobility instruction for travelers who are blind. I’m looking for potential participants who live in the Chicago area, are 18 years or older, are blind, and can travel a route under a mile (1.25 km) independently with either their mobility cane or guide dog.

What is the focus of the project? The purpose of the research is to better understand the effect 3-d printed tactile maps can have on travelers who are blind learning a specific route.

What will you be asked to do? You’ll be asked to learn some typical routes someone might walk on their way to work. For some of the routes, you’ll learn them through traditional verbal orienting with a certified orientation and mobility specialist. For other routes you’ll learn them with the aid of a 3-d printed tactile map. After learning each route, you’ll be asked to repeat the route while I record the path you travel, walking with you. In total, you will be asked to walk at least 12 routes, each one no more than one mile and participate in two short interviews, one at the beginning after you’ve consented to the research and another after walking all the routes. The initial interview will be to learn a little about your history of vision and mobility instruction, and the exit interview will be for a chance for you to share your thoughts on the maps as a mobility aid. You will be familiarized to a route, then asked to walk it short succession while being video recorded. You will not be asked to walk another route that day. You will only be asked to learn and walk one route per session, never more than one a day. Each route is designed to be like a commute to work, so total time expected to be 30-45 minutes. The total commitment is 12 to 20 routes days spread over 3 months and scheduled at your convenience. The two interviews can be conducted over the phone and are intended to take no more than 30 minutes, and they will be recorded by the researcher.

What are the risks of participation? The research intervention imposes minimal risk, but in walking a route that does involve street crossings there are risks. Each route is designed by a certified orientation and mobility specialist to maximize safety. The specialist will also be near you the whole time you’re executing routes to maximize safety.

What are the benefits of participation? The research team does not anticipate any direct benefits from participating beyond compensation for participating in all the routes. 

How do I let you know about my interest in participation? If you are interested, are blind, and travel independently with your cane or guide dog, please email Bryan Moles (bmoles2 at uic.ed <mailto:bmoles2 at uic.ed> u).

 

Thank you for considering participating in our research project. I  hope to hear from you.

Bryan Moles

 

 

Lou Ann Blake, J.D.

Deputy Executive Director, Blindness Initiatives

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314, extension 2221 | lblake at nfb.org <mailto:lblake at nfb.org> 

 

 

 <https://nfb.org/> 

 

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