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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Joe Orozco <jsorozco@gmail.com>
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<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 25, 2026 7:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> John Halverson <jwh100@outlook.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> FW: Seeking blind participants for a research study<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hi John,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Would you mind please sharing this with the chapter list?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Joe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Marybeth Cleveland <<a href="mailto:mbcleveland@fastmail.net">mbcleveland@fastmail.net</a>>
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<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 25, 2026 12:17 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Joe Orozco <<a href="mailto:jsorozco@gmail.com">jsorozco@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Seeking blind participants for a research study<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You can help us solve a new issue in taking the bus. Street designs continue to evolve resulting in new challenges for blind pedestrians. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Accessible Design for the Blind, working with Kittelson & Associates, is looking for volunteers who are blind to participate in a study on the accessibility of bus boarding islands in the Washington, DC, area. We want to better understand
the experience and challenges of people who have little or no vision when crossing bicycle lanes to get to or from buses at bus boarding islands. Bus boarding islands are separated from the sidewalk by bicycle lanes that must be crossed to board the bus or
to reach the sidewalk when exiting the bus. These islands can be of various designs, and they may have a sizeable area where one can wait for the bus, or they may have limited or no width, in which case passengers board the bus from the edge of the bike lane.
These bus boarding islands let people riding bicycles use a bicycle lane that passes buses on the side away from the street, so they don't have to wait behind buses or go around them by moving into the traffic on the left side of the bus. The boarding islands
reduce conflicts between bicyclists and buses and other traffic, but they introduce potential conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians. These conflicts occur because the bus boarding islands require passengers to cross the bike lane when traveling to or
from where you board the bus. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We are looking for experienced travelers who are comfortable using a long cane, who regularly travel independently outdoors, and who would be willing to participate in the research. If you decide to take part in the study, you will be asked
to do several trials in which you will begin on the sidewalk or bus island, need to locate the crossing location for the bike lane, and cross the bike lane. For some of the crossings, there will be additional assistive features present at the crossing. There
will be a certified orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist with you as you travel. Compensation is $75, and travel costs to get to and from the study area will be reimbursed<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If you are interested in participating in this study, please call me, Marybeth Cleveland, at 301-412-4224, or email me at
<a href="mailto:mbcleveland@fastmail.net">mbcleveland@fastmail.net</a> to get additional information and to find out if you are eligible for the study. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested and who is in the Washington D.C. area.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Marybeth Cleveland<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">A to B and Back,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Orientation and Mobility Services, LLC<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">301-412-4224<o:p></o:p></p>
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