[Nfbmo] What should cities do for blind people

[Gary Wunder]

I have written a few things but suspect many of you have good ideas for 
Christi. Please respond to her directly but I'd love to have a copy and you 
might share it on the NFBMO list as well.

Gary


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christy Drew" <cdrew at boonville.k12.mo.us>
To: <gwunder at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:40 AM
Subject: Another question


Hello friend!
Well, here I am writing again to ask your advice on something.  I have to 
preface this by saying that I trust in your opinions and I want to know what 
you think when I ask these things.  I want to help the folks in my community 
who are blind, but I don't want to go into it as a sighted person who thinks 
I can relate to their exact experiences.  I think I have a pretty good grasp 
of things, but I would be a liar if I said I know everything because I don't 
live it.  That said, here is the situation on which I would love your input 
:
I was invited to come to an ADA compliance workshop at city hall tonight.  I 
am kind of involved on two levels of this.  One being that I have a 
disability of my own... ha-ha, that sounds funny.  It is my disability and I 
own it!  Ha!  Let me get back on track here!  The second level would be my 
sincere interest in the blind community and wanting to make things more 
equal for everyone. I know that the city is looking to make improvements for 
those with disabilities, but to this point has focused more on the 
wheelchair bound individuals than others.  My cousin is a wheelchair 
traveler in town and will certainly benefit from the new ideas.  But I also 
know that there are several children (as well as some adults) in the 
community that would benefit from things being more user friendly for blind 
travelers.  I have been asked to give input on both issues and want to make 
the best of the opportunity.
I remember at one NFB meeting they were talking about the sidewalks in 
Columbia and some changes that were being made there.  I remember someone 
mentioning that the changes made to some of the curbs were actually causing 
more difficulty instead of less.  Going into this meeting, I would like some 
first hand ideas from you (or anyone else you can think of) that would 
benefit the blind in our community.  There has been talk of Braille signage 
at some of the main intersections and some other things.  I would really 
like to know what an ideal situation would be.  I know "ideal" is a lot to 
ask for, but I guess I would like to have some kind of goal to work toward. 
I'm not sure I am wording this all exactly the way I want to, but I am 
hoping you will get the idea and the honest intent behind it.  Can you offer 
any input?
Thanks as always for your help.  I can't walk a mile in your shoes, but I 
can walk beside you for a very long way.  That's what I am trying to do for 
the folks here.
Thanks!
Christi