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

Wed Apr 19 00:55:17 UTC 2023

Actually now that you think about it that would trouble me. I'm real
paranoid about even pulling up my cheap phone. I mean it's a great app and
that's good it was invented. But you know at the same time a lot of these
phones are getting up there in price. I saw one of those fancy pants
Samsung folding phones for about $1,700. And you know those iPhones are up
in the 1200 1300 $1,400 range nowadays. It's a nice technology but I'm a
little shy about pulling out the phone.

Robert Hansen
hansen.robert70 at gmail.com

On Tue, Apr 18, 2023, 7:12 PM Deborah Kent Stein via IL-Talk <
il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>
>
> What troubles me about this technology is the idea of standing on a busy
> street corner and holding out my phone for all to see. It would be too easy
> for a stranger to snatch it and run. Am I just being paranoid?
>
> Debbie S.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kelly
> Pierce via IL-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 6:08 PM
> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Kelly Pierce <kellytalk at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] FW: Article from Chicago Sun Times Metro State
> Section 2023 04 06
>
> A traffic signal identifier named OKO has just been released for the
> iPhone.  The free app makes unique sounds when the traffic signal is
> showing the don’t walk signal or the walk signal. I have used it a few
> times and the app has worked flawlessly. The app can be a game changer and
> travel enhancer for those who want additional support and confidence
> crossing streets with traffic lights. All someone needs to do is to point
> the back iPhone camera to the traffic signal across the street and
> instantly sound is produced, indicating the status of the signal.  Has
> anyone else used OKO?  Feel free to share your experience. This app could
> easily replace in my trials the need for feedback from guide dogs or audio
> traffic signals installed by municipalities.  OKO is currently under active
> development so feedback about signals that do not work with the app will be
> investigated and solutions created for the app to function at these
> intersections. The app has been used in Europe for a couple of years and
> now has just been made available in the United States and Canada.
>
> Kelly
>
>
>
> On 4/9/23, Debbie Pittman via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > 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.
> >>
> >> This article is provided to you as a courtesy of NFB-NEWSLINE???
> >> Online for your sole use. The content of this E-mail is protected
> >> under copyright law, and is not to be distributed in any manner to
> >> others; infringement of our non-dissemination agreement is strictly
> >> prohibited. Allowing someone to have access to this material is in
> >> violation of the Terms of Use agreement that you electronically
> >> signed when you signed up for NFB-NEWSLINE??? Online.
> >> Please do not forward this E-mail or its attachments to any other
> >> person or disseminate it in any manner. Thank you. The
> >> NFB-NEWSLINE??? Team.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> IL-Talk mailing list
> >> IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> IL-Talk:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/debbiepittman99%
> >> 40gmail.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > IL-Talk mailing list
> > IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > IL-Talk:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/kellytalk%40gmail
> > .com
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> IL-Talk mailing list
> IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> IL-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/dkent5817%40att.net
>
>
> --
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> www.avast.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> IL-Talk mailing list
> IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> IL-Talk:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/hansen.robert70%40gmail.com
>