[nfb-talk] FW: Interesting article on a new trial for signs in Australia

[d m gina]

yes I am getting shorter and shorter, I'm sure they are way above my head.
Now that cracks me up.

Original message:
> I have.  As a rule, street signs tend to be mounted on poles and are 
> quite high up:  more so than merely reaching a hand up would permit 
> feeling.  That's another reason why Braille street signs ain't gonna work.


> Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the 
> blind built-in!
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray
> Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user!

> On Jul 22, 2013, at 2:38 PM, d m gina <dmgina at samobile.net> wrote:

>> I have never seen a street sign, are they on the same pole as a light pole?
>> That would be most entertaining.

>> Original message:
>>> Hi Everyone,

>>> The following article was sent to me by a friend. Maybe the local county
>>> government is considering placing Braille signage for street signs.

>>> I would like to know the federation thoughts on this topic.

>>> Yasmin Reyazuddin
>>> Aging & Disability Services
>>> Montgomery County Government
>>> Department of Health & Human Services
>>> 401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor)
>>> Rockville MD 20850
>>> 240-777-0311 (MC311)
>>> 240-777-1556 (personal)
>>> 240-777-1495 (fax)
>>> office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm
>>> Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille

>>> This message may contain protected health information or other
>>> information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the
>>> intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy
>>> any copies of this material.

>>> Thank you.



>>> http://www.guidedogs.com.au/news-and-events/news/20-06-2013/sydneysiders
>>> -with-impaired-vision-to-trial-new-braille-street-signs

>>> Top of Form

>>> Sydneysiders with impaired vision to trial new Braille street signs

>>> 20 June, 2013



>>> Walking around Sydney can be easy if you can see to read the street
>>> signs, but imagine how you'd go if you were blind or vision impaired?

>>> With the incidence of vision loss increasing, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has
>>> welcomed a City of Sydney initiative to trial Braille and tactile street
>>> signs that provide people who are blind or vision impaired with
>>> information on where they are.



>>> Today, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT clients who use guide dogs or long canes to
>>> help them get around will participate in the trial at Circular Quay. It
>>> will involve them testing and providing feedback on the legibility of
>>> prototype street signs that provide location information in Braille and
>>> tactile raised lettering.

>>> Guide Dogs NSW/ACT clients and Community Education staff have played a
>>> key role in the City of Sydney's consultation process on the development
>>> of the new Braille and tactile street signs, which will replace existing
>>> signage that has worn-out from use since they were installed in the
>>> 1990s.

>>> "The trial will ensure that the best possible Braille and tactile street
>>> sign products and designs are used so that people who are blind or
>>> vision impaired can easily and independently access the City of Sydney,"
>>> says Jennifer Moon, Community Education Coordinator for Guide Dogs
>>> NSW/ACT.

>>> "The Braille and tactile street signs are an important enhancement to
>>> the specialized work our Orientation and Mobility Instructors do. They
>>> provide training to people with impaired vision that enables them to
>>> move around their environments safely and on their own."

>>> After the trial, it is proposed that a new network of Braille and
>>> tactile street signs will be placed next to pedestrian crossing buttons
>>> on traffic light poles through the CBD. They aim to give pedestrians
>>> with vision loss the confidence that they will be able to 'orientate'
>>> themselves throughout their journey and at their destination.



>>> Guide dog handler Nicole Holmes (pictured above), who has been part of
>>> the consultation process, knows only too well how important it is to
>>> have the right Braille and tactile street signs in place.

>>> "The ability to identify my location or where I am in such a busy city
>>> like Sydney most importantly eases my stress while I'm trying to
>>> negotiate the environment," says Nicole, whose vision is impaired due to
>>> Retinopathy of Prematurity.

>>> "Braille and tactile signage is also useful in reassuring me that I am
>>> heading in the right direction to my destination so it complements the
>>> assistance that I get from my long cane or guide dog. I'm really pleased
>>> that the City of Sydney is trialing the Braille street signs because as
>>> vision impairment can differ between people, we need to make sure the
>>> end product will be useful for as many people with vision impairment as
>>> possible."

>>> Research predicts that the number of people in NSW and the ACT aged over
>>> 40 with impaired vision is set to rise to 100,000 by 2020 .

>>> Each year, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT provides free services to almost 4,000
>>> people of all ages and with any degree of vision loss that might impact
>>> their ability to get around independently.

>>> For more information about Guide Dogs NSW/Act's free services visit
>>> www.guidedogs.com.au or call 1800 804 805.
>>> ENDS

>>> MEDIA: Please contact: Sally Edgar, 0413 753 241 or
>>> media at guidedogs.com.au

>>> ABOUT GUIDE DOGS NSW/ACT
>>> Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of guide dogs and orientation
>>> and mobility services to enable people with impaired vision to get
>>> around their communities independently. Services include providing
>>> training and aids including long canes, guide dogs and electronic travel
>>> devices such as talking GPS technology. . Visit www.guidedogs.com.au,
>>> call 1800 804 805, or follow us on Facebook
>>> <http://www.facebook.com/guidedogsnswact?ref=hl>  or Twitter
>>> <https://twitter.com/GuideDogsNSWACT> .
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>> --
>> --Dar
>> skype: dmgina23
>> FB: dmgina
>> www.twitter.com/dmgina
>> every saint has a past
>> every sinner has a future

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-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future