Thank you for coming to the rescue Kathy.
-----Original Message-----
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf ;
Of Clarrage, Katherine C.
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2019 3:11 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Steve Kelley <SKelley@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Clarrage, Katherine C. <Katherine.C.Clarrage@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Mini Immersion Day
This is an ambitious endeavor. My initial reaction would be I'm not sure I'd
try to do anything "feet on the streets" during the Westbrook Together Days
weekend just because this town is extra crazy with all the hub-bub that
weekend. Next thought is there might be videos (as Carson referenced) that
could be shown...although a quieter venue (public safety conference room?)
might be a better place to view this video and then if folks desired, a guided
walk (with a trained Orientation & Mobility Specialist) could be
offered...otherwise I think you are putting folks (guides and guided in a
potentially liability situation). I would like to strongly remind the group
that the vast majority of visually impaired folks have low vision, not the
portrayed total blindness...so if a trained professional were to assist you in
this project and IF you wanted feet on the street, we do have some simulation
goggles that could be used for such a demo.
I know quite a few years ago now, O&M instructors and folks from Alpha One did
an awesome feet on the streets (after "lecture") with the traffic engineers in
Portland...that really got them thinking about the challenges of folks with
several disabilities and they are still referencing that event this many years
later (aka, pointed out the importance of visual contrast, audible pedestrian
signal plus/minus) and the challenges of curb-cuts (or lack there of). For what
I commend you all for taking this on, I do throw a tad of caution and would
really want this well thought out...otherwise it could become a liability risk
and could just potentially scare people and leave them thinking safe
independent navigation isn't possible. Do let me know how I might be able to
assist, although I will tell you that that first weekend in June (Westbrook
Together Days), I am not available. And should you wonder, my agency is not
able to "loan out" the vision simulation goggles to non-staff...again,
liability. Sorry, thanks! Kathy PS...someone asked what O&M stands
for...answer: Orientation & Mobility (instructors for the blind and visually
impaired).
AND, I've attached a video Carson referenced that nicely depicts feet on the
streets as a person who is blind/visually impaired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y11qwgGmhok&hl=en%5FUS&version=3&rel=0
-----Original Message-----
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf ;
Of Kimberly Tarbox
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2019 12:55 PM
To: Steve Kelley <SKelley@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Mini Immersion Day
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The Westbrook Safe Mobility and Access Committee(WSMAC) is considering a mini
immersion day at Westbrook Together Days to give individuals a chance to
understand what it is like to get around without vision. We would like to have
your input as well as input from Kathy Clarrage on the feasibility of this idea
as well as precautions that should be taken. We want the public to be able to
understand what it is like to navigate the world being vision impaired but we
want to do this safely. We look forward to hearing from you.
Kimberly Tarbox
Westbrook Safe Mobility and Access Committee
(WSMAC)
Sent from my iPad
