[IL-Talk] FW: Article from Chicago Sun Times Metro State Section 2023 04 06

[Debbie Pittman]

I just hope the signals they put in will not be like the one at Jackson and state which seems to only confuse the challenge of crossing.  

Debbie P






Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 6, 2023, at 6:49 PM, Denise Avant via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello All,
> 
> The court made a ruling yesterday regarding the Accessible Pedestrian
> Signals. Please see the below article. Also, I will be on CBS 2 News tonight
> at 10 since there is one near me.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: NFB-NEWSLINE Online <publications at nfbnewsline.net> 
> Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2023 6:16 PM
> To: Denise Avant <davant1958 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Article from Chicago Sun Times Metro State Section 2023 04 06
> 
> 
> 
> Chicago crosswalk signals violate disabilities act, federal judge rules By
> Catherine Odom A federal judge has ruled Chicago violated the Americans with
> Disabilities Act by failing to install signals at most crosswalks that help
> people who are visually impaired navigate streets and reach their
> destinations safely. U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo ruled Friday that the
> city's lack of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) at crosswalks was
> discriminatory against people who are visually impaired because it deprives
> them of "meaningful access" to public benefits guaranteed by the
> disabilities act. Bucklo's judgement was issued in response to a lawsuit
> brought in 2019 by the American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago
> and several visually impaired individuals. Ann Brash, a plaintiff in the
> class-action suit, said she was nearly struck by a bus while walking home
> from work in 2017 because the crosswalk lacked accessible signals, according
> to the complaint. Jelena Kolic, an attorney for Disability Rights Advocates
> who represented the plaintiffs, said they were "thrilled that the judge
> recognized that public entities need to account for blind and low-vision
> pedestrians when signalizing intersections. The city's law department did
> not respond to a request for comment Thursday. The suit accused the city of
> upgrading crosswalks without including accessible signals, which can feature
> audio recordings or tones that communicate information about the crossing's
> "walk" and "don't walk" intervals. The year the suit was brought, Mayor Lori
> Lightfoot had promised to install up to 100 APS-equipped crosswalk signals
> to make Chicago "the most inclusive city in the nation. But as of 2021,
> fewer than 1% of crosswalks in the city had the accessible signals
> installed, according to justice department, which joined the plaintiffs in
> the suit. "Federal law offers people with visual disabilities the promise of
> full participation in community life, and safely navigating city streets is
> a critical part of that," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the
> justice department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement following the
> decision. Colleen Wunderlich, who is blind, testified about her experiences
> in this lawsuit and said she was "very pleased" but "not surprised" by the
> decision. Wunderlich said crossing the street without the accessible signals
> is "dangerous and unsettling," and forces her to rely on listening for
> passing traffic or asking strangers for help. She said she hopes to see APS
> devices at all crosswalks in the future. Janet Szlyk, president of the
> Chicago Lighthouse, a social services organization for the visually
> impaired, said she was "disappointed" it took a lawsuit to push the city to
> prioritize accessibility. "It should be an absolute priority for the city.
> Accessibility is critically important," Szlyk said. The plaintiffs and the
> city have yet to reach agreement on a remedial plan. Kolic said she looks
> forward to negotiating the terms with the city. "Chicago is a very walkable
> city, and it should be walkable for everyone," Kolic said. "I'm hoping that
> the consequence of this decision will be that the blind residents of this
> city will be able to enjoy that walkability, just as the rest of us have
> been able to do. 
> 
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