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

[Donald Winiecki]

I will try to arrive early at the NFB-Treasure Valley meeting tomorrow
evening.  Maybe we can start to strategize then!

_don


On Mon, Sep 24, 2018 at 4:59 PM dana ard via NFB-Idaho <nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> 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
>