[nagdu] Universal Design

Sun Mar 28 23:41:21 UTC 2010

Albert,
    One way to keep abreast of what the NFB is doing is to read our monthly 
journal - The Braille Monitor! It is available on-line at

HTTP://WWW.NFB.ORG

and has back issues into the 1980s.

Marion

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 2:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Universal Design

>I am very  pleased to learn that. sometimes in these dialogues I do not get
> that sense at all. Seems like at times there is a resounding  sense of
> elitism and I am happy to hear that my sense is not true about the
> organization as a whole..
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 5:53 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Universal Design
>
> Albert,
>    The prospect of universal design, especially in the area of 
> electronics,
>
> is one of the major initiatives of the NFB and the Imagination Fund!
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Section 501(d)
>
>
>>I hear a need for an open discussion on universal design here. It would
>> stand to benefit all people of all abilities if we designed things which
>> would reach the broadest spectrum of peoples of all abilities. If we as a
>> collective group took this into consideration the ability to impact 
>> change
>> may happen more quickly as more people would benefit rather then a
>> segregated few. This was the problem experienced with those curb cuts
>> which
>> sent pedestrians out into the intersection rather then setting their path
>> to
>> cross the street  in and with the proper flow of traffic rather then 
>> right
>> into the middle of it. I had not been aware that the sounds emitted were
>> not
>> universally designed to appear or sound seamless from one town to the
>> next,
>> but then again the pedestrian laws are designed that way to why should I
>> be
>> surprised.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who 
>> is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Dan Weiner
>> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:20 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Section 501(d)
>>
>> Hi, Albert and all.
>>
>> Well, I'll give what I consider to be an objective analysis of audible
>> signals from my point of view.
>> I think the biggest problem is that the operation of these signals isn't
>> standardized and so each one is different.
>> How do you know which is the north south signal or the east west signal
>> unless you're familiar with an intersection?
>>
>> I think they are useful in giving us information, the same information
>> that
>> a sighted pedestrian has, whether there is a light r crossing sign that
>> say
>> s "walk" or don't walk.
>> Since as blind people information is key to our success as safe 
>> travelers,
>
>> I
>> think it's a good idea.
>> What you do with it is up to you.
>> When I lived in Maryland, a complicated intersection about 500 yards from
>> my
>> apartment had an audible signal.
>> Yes, I did find it helpful, that is, once I figured out that the coo coo
>> chirp referred to the east west street I wanted to cross  and therefore, 
>> I
>> should listen for the chirp chirp, which meant I had a walk signal for 
>> the
>> other street, or something like that--smile.
>> Yes, guys, knowing when I had the light was helpful.  Doesn't mean my 
>> mind
>> automatically turned off and I didn't listen for traffic.
>> It is my person opinion that these signals should be available in a form
>> that pedestrians can activate on every lighted intersection in the
>> country.
>>
>> Also, and the supposedly perfect travelers out there are going to smirk 
>> at
>> this one, I am deaf in one ear and, travel skills or not, telling the
>> direction of traffic is a challenge.  The audible signal was a tangible
>> piece of info I could use and made it much more stress-free.
>>
>> I think the biggest problem, as I said, is standardizing operation: will
>> it
>> be a chirp, a voice saying " walk sign is on", a clicking noise? I've 
>> seen
>> all of these.  And, what about the activation and lack thereof? Where 
>> will
>> the button be, where will the cross-walk pole be?
>> Perhaps as a vibrant consumer organization, we the NFB could be giving
>> valuable consumer input on these questions rather than taking a firm line
>> and imputing lack of travel skills to those who might find this tool
>> useful.
>> Finally, I've been to other countries where audible signals are much more
>> prevalent than here and the blind do find them helpful...yes, I know
>> that's
>> a collective term, "the blind" and we're all individuals.
>>
>> Now, I think someone mentioned that, when these systems are set up,
>> there's
>> a big hoopla made about the blind now being able to cross streets.
>> Well, guys, you know that stereotypes abound and why should one more get
>> our
>> dander up.
>> I've been at APS where I couldn't figure out which noise was for which
>> sound
>> and ingenious passers-by asked why I wasn't crossing. When I explained,
>> they
>> said "well, doesn't the signal tell you"--smile
>>
>> Moderator, my apologies, but I thought I'd just add my honestly felt two
>> cents worth to this discussion.
>>
>> Cordially,
>>
>> Dan
>>
>>
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