[MD-Sligo] FW: Seeking blind participants for a research study

[deborahb14 at verizon.net]

-----Original Message-----
From: Marybeth Cleveland <mbcleveland at fastmail.net> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 4:16 PM
Subject: Seeking blind participants for a research study

Hi everyone,
You can help us solve a new issue in taking the bus. Street designs continue
to evolve resulting in new challenges for blind pedestrians. 

Accessible Design for the Blind, working with Kittelson & Associates, is
looking for volunteers who are blind to participate in a study on the
accessibility of bus boarding islands in the Washington, DC, area. We want
to better understand the experience and challenges of people who have little
or no vision when crossing bicycle lanes to get to or from buses at bus
boarding islands. Bus boarding islands are separated from the sidewalk by
bicycle lanes that must be crossed to board the bus or to reach the sidewalk
when exiting the bus. These islands can be of various designs, and they may
have a sizeable area where one can wait for the bus, or they may have
limited or no width, in which case passengers board the bus from the edge of
the bike lane. These bus boarding islands let people riding bicycles use a
bicycle lane that passes buses on the side away from the street, so they
don't have to wait behind buses or go around them by moving into the traffic
on the left side of the bus. The boarding islands reduce conflicts between
bicyclists and buses and other traffic, but they introduce potential
conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians. These conflicts occur because
the bus boarding islands require passengers to cross the bike lane when
traveling to or from where you board the bus. 

We are looking for experienced travelers who are comfortable using a long
cane, who regularly travel independently outdoors, have an inability to see
shapes or objects such as pavement markings such as crosswalks, signs, or
vehicles including bicycles AND who would be willing to participate in the
research. If you decide to take part in the study, you will be asked to do
several trials in which you will begin on the sidewalk or bus island, need
to locate the crossing location for the bike lane, and cross the bike lane.
For some of the crossings, there will be additional assistive features
present at the crossing. There will be a certified orientation and mobility
(O&M) specialist with you as you travel. Compensation is $75, and travel
costs to get to and from the study area will be reimbursed

If you are interested in participating in this study, please call me,
Marybeth Cleveland, at 301-412-4224, or email me at mbcleveland at fastmail.net
to get additional information and to find out if you are eligible for the
study. 

Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested and who is in the
Washington D.C. area.
 
Marybeth Cleveland
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist A to B and Back, Orientation
and Mobility Services, LLC
301-412-4224