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

[d m gina]

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
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