Hi all,

The appended reply posting from Glenn Sabatka landed in
my personal inbox although it was intended for the list.
I'm now forwarding it at Glenn's request.

Best wishes,

Peter Meijer


Seeing with Sound - The vOICe
http://www.seeingwithsound.com/winvoice.htm


Friends,
This may be a bit off subject, but perhaps not.  We at Florida Gulf Coast
University have our first totally blind student.  We are the newest state
Unit and are trying to solve some mobility problems she has.

ON campus it is impossible for a person using a cane (I use a long cane) to
tell the difference between roadways and sidewalks and therefore cane users
find themselves in the road before they know they are there.  When she is
crossing the  major road on campus (5 lanes) she is worried that they are
not crossing in a straight line.

We have tested ( using R.R. ties or speed bump units a tactile marker along
the last 8 feet before a crossing which a cane will  hit telling  the user
when the sidewalks stop and the road begins, which seems to work in
prototype.

Now we need a way to cross a wide road (on campus) and also a way to tell
one sidewalk from several others.  I have thought of a couple of solutions
but would appreciate any others.

First I thought of cutting lines  (with a cement blade on a rotary power
saw,)   using these cut-out lines as a trail between the correct sidewalks
providing a tactile trail.  However, cuts in the sidewalks are likely to
fill with dirt and the like and make the trail unusable, and they also would
not look good.  Then I thought perhaps if there is a adhesive backed tile
(very durable,)we could lay these tiles or the like in a line across the
road and between sidewalk interchanges so a cane user could determine and
follow the correct path.

If someone knows of such a tile or something that would provide a durable
tactile trail please give me your ideas!

We want our University to be accessible to all and your idea may be the one
that makes it happen.

Thank you.

Glenn Sabatka


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