[NFB-Idaho] "Braille in public places!"

[president at nfbidaho.org]

I think we, and I mean myself and you and anyone else who wants to do this,
Should go to the newly renovated Idaho Historical Museum. I'd like to see what has been done to make the museum useable by the blind and make suggestions. I think this would be an excellent topic for our convention next year. 
Dana Ard, President
National Federation of the Blind of Idaho
Main: 208-345-3906
Cell: 208-859-2828 (call only)
Email: president at NFBIdaho.org
Website: www.nfbidaho.org
“The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; Blindness is not what holds you back.”  


-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Idaho [mailto:nfb-idaho-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donald Winiecki via NFB-Idaho
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2018 2:39 PM
To: NFB of Idaho Discussion List
Cc: Donald Winiecki
Subject: [NFB-Idaho] "Braille in public places!"

Some news on the topic of "braille in public places!"

First, there will be two tactile maps of the Valley Regional Transit, Main
Street Station at 777 Main ST in Boise.  One map will be placed at street
level, just inside the station, and along the right side of the railing
that separates the stairs from the elevator. The second map will be placed
adjacent to the doors at the southwest end of the station.

The area around the tactile part of the map will contain braille labels for
important parts of the station. A tactile line will connect the braille
label to the relevant part of the map.

Current plans are for both maps to be accompanied by a narrative
description of the station and its features. I will be testing a set of
different descriptions to make sure it provides necessary information in a
friendly manner.

The tactile map will also contain print text so that visually-impaired and
sighted individuals have the same information. The map will be designed so
that updates to the labels can be made when bus drop-off points change.

Because the maps will be mounted on podiums at waist level they could be
easily bumped into.  For that reason, a tactile strip on the floor will be
installed so that your white cane will warn you of the map's placement
before you bump the map.  A similar tactile barrier will be placed around
the bicycle pump station just inside and to the right of the main doors at
street level.  As with the tactile strip around the maps, the tactile strip
around the bicycle pump station can be felt by your cane, and warn you
before you bump into the pump.

My contact at Valley Regional Transit is helping to get me connected to
other departments around the valley in order to make sure I can contribute
to others' efforts to ensure provision of accessible media.

Second, the Boise Department of Parks is planning for improvements to
Katheryn Albertsons' park.  I am working with them to make sure there is
accessible signage and cane-friendly orientation features as part of the
improvements.

The following aren't specific to braille, but will likely have broader
impacts for many visually-impaired patrons of Valley Regional Transit.

We are starting to pull together teams to work on improving the ways VRT
makes information and documents available in accessible format. This will
include braille, large print, and phone-access to content.  Finally,
efforts are under way to plan and implement voiceover features in their bus
locator cellphone apps!  Each of these two things require coordination of a
lot more people, and may take longer than one would expect.

When these things are ready, I will make sure that we distribute
announcements and relevant information through ICBVI and Newsline.

Susan Bradley got me connected with people at Valley Regional Transit, and
Alison Steven handed-off information on what Boise Parks Department was up
to.  It sure is nice to have friends in important places!

_don

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don Winiecki
Handid Media Systems • a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
dwiniecki at handid.org
http://handid.org
208 571 8096
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~d
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