[nfbmi-talk] Assistance with research

[Larry Posont]

----- Original Message -----
From: Gavin R Jenkins
To: 'president.nfb.mi at gmail.com'
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 3:10 PM
Subject: Assistance with research


You are being invited to participate in a survey that I, Gavin
Jenkins, Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy
at the University of Alabama, at Birmingham, is conducting.  This
survey is being used for research purposes and is designed to examine
the nature of sensory cues, embedded into the built environment, that
have a significant effect on the outdoor experience of people with
visual impairments and blindness. There is evidence to suggest that
without sufficient cues embedded in the outdoor environment (i.e.
sounds, aromas, visual cues...), it is difficult or impossible for
people with visual impairment to recognize objects, surfaces and
scenes and to navigate the environment.



This study is seeking the knowledge and experience of individuals with
visual impairment or blindness, and those who work with people with
visual impairments or blindness to identify the critical cues that
affect people with visual impairments when they use outdoor spaces.
Your knowledge and experience will assist in focusing on which of
these cues are being used and therefore which cues are important for
those involved in designing public spaces to understand. While it is
possible to identify the more obvious cues, your input will help to
rank these and identify the less obvious, but possibly critical, cues
that different people use.



To assist me in this study, I would be grateful if you would consider
completing a short survey.  The survey should take approximately 15
minutes to complete.  It contains questions about the type of sensory
cues available and asks you to rank them based on importance.  Your
responses will remain confidential, and I ask that you do not include
any identifying information on the survey.



Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. If you
choose to participate, you may choose to discontinue participation at
any time and you may choose to skip any of the survey questions. If
you have any questions about the research, please contact Gavin
Jenkins at jenkinsg at uab.edu or (+1) 205-934-5437.



If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or
concerns or complaints about the research, you may contact Ms. Sheila
Moore. Ms. Moore is the Director of the Office of the Institutional
Review Board for Human Use (OIRB) at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham (UAB). Ms. Moore may be reached at (205) 934-3789 or
1-800-822-8816. If calling the toll -free number, press the option for
"all other calls" or for an operator/attendant and ask for extension
4-3789.  Regular hours for the Office of the IRB are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. You may also call this number in the
event the research staff cannot be reached or you wish to talk to
someone else.



If you are willing to complete the survey then please follow the link below:



https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MQBQVF5





Yours sincerely



Gavin R Jenkins OTR/L ATP

Department of Occupational Therapy

SHPB 350

1530 3rd Ave S

Birmingham, AL, 35294-1212



Effects of multisensory environments on the outdoor experience of
People with Visual Impairment and Blindness. University of Alabama,
Birmingham IRB protocol number: X110523007