[nagdu] Why good O&M training is so important

[GARY STEEVES]

Hi

I would have to second that thought. I have argued in favour of audible signals on this list before but have never heard a signal like this one. As I have said in my emails on this topic, I feel the audible signal is another aid to assist in my safe crossing of the road. However, it is not the only thing that tells me it is okay to go so I certainly wouldn't want it drowning out the car turning right towards me. 

In Canada we have a set of national transportation guidelines with the goal of ensuring that the types of signals being used are consistent around the country. The universality of the tones for north south and east west crossings hasn't been finalized but I believe it is very close to achieving this goal. This means in the future in Canada where ever you go, if there are audible signals, the tones for each directional crossing will be the same.

It was also nice to hear from a person who lives in New York to explain that there may be other reasons why it is difficlut to make certain crossings there. Personally, in downtown Vancouver, I find it much harder to assess whether it is safe to go. It is fine when there is heavy ttraffic flow but at many times, or in some parts of downtown, the traffic flow is fairly low. However, I figure there are enough street people making random crossings in downtown that motorists are on their guard so a person actually crossing at a cross walk and paying attention isn't likely to be run down. :)

Gary
 

----- Original Message -----
From: Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 11:53 am
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Why good O&M training is so important
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> If all signals were like the one shown in this video, i would advocate
> for NO audible signals. THat tone would definitely get in the 
> way of
> my listening to traffic and I'd be afraid to cross that street because
> I can't hear traffic.
> 
> Luckily, not all audible signal are like that, and i can listen 
> to the
> chirp tha tindicates it's my turn
> 
> On 11/2/11, Julie Phillipson <jbrew48 at verizon.net> wrote:
> > Aaron there is a huge problem in New York City where they are 
> changing how
> > the lights at intersections work and it is causing lots of 
> problems for
> > blind people because, as I understand it,  it changes one 
> or two lanes of
> > traffic that stops traffic, giving pedestrians 30 seconds more 
> time to cross
> > before stopping the other lanes of traffic and there is no way 
> for the blind
> > person to know when they can start crossing.  They are 
> changing something
> > like 15,000  intersections to work like this.
> > Therefore it is a case where NFb of New York is supporting the 
> need for
> > APS's.  There is a coalition of several disability groups 
> that have been
> > working on this.  This trend is spreading to other area's 
> too.  although it
> > may look like this guy doesn't have good mobility skills it isn't
> > necessarily the case.  May be Cheryl E. can describe this 
> better since she
> > lives in the area.
> > Julie Phillipson
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Aaron Cannon" <cannona at fireantproductions.com>
> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
> Users"> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 10:17 AM
> > Subject: [nagdu] Why good O&M training is so important
> >
> >
> >> This video posted on the Yahoo Accessibility blog seeks to 
> demonstrate>> the need for accessible crossing signals.  
> However, in my opinion it
> >> manages to do just the opposite quite nicely.
> >>
> >> http://yaccessibilityblog.com/wp/blind-people-cross-street.html
> >>
> >> I find it troubling that he talks about needing the signal "to
> >> indicate that it's safe for me to cross the street."  
> Even worse is
> >> his comment "I don't have to listen for the traffic coming 
> the other
> >> way, I can just listen to the tone."
> >>
> >> He also calls crossing without a signal "daunting" and "scary".
> >>
> >> I can understand that such crossings can be quite daunting 
> and scary
> >> if you don't have good training or practice making such 
> crossings, so
> >> I don't really fault him for that.  However, I fear that 
> people,>> especially other blind people, watching this video 
> will assume that
> >> that's how it is for everyone.
> >>
> >> Finally, I do think that accessible signals can have their 
> place, but
> >> certainly not the type shown in this video, which seem like 
> they could
> >> actually interfere with listening to the traffic.
> >>
> >> Anyway, I just thought I'd share.
> >>
> >> Aaron Cannon
> >>
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