It's too bad you won't be available, Kathy. I totally get about not loaning
out the goggles to non-staff. Do you think there's anyone else in your
office who might consider giving us maybe 2 hours of their time, or do you
know where else we might be able to borrow a pair? It does seem like a
great activity for Together Days, to accomplish some of the kind of empathy
of an immersion experience but without the extra challenge and liability of
the usual immersion activity in the Together Days context. I would the
goggles would be very doable in a small safe area we could rope off.
Regarding the video, we could post that on our Facebook page anytime! Is
that okay with you, Carson, and Kathy, should we ask Caitlyn as well?
On Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 3:57 PM Kimberly Tarbox <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Thank you Kathy. This is exactly why we are reaching out. We will take
your recommendations under advisement and rethink when and how to tackle an
immersion day.
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 18, 2019, at 3:40 PM, Carson Wood <cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Behalf Of Clarrage, Katherine C.
Thank you for coming to the rescue Kathy.
-----Original Message-----
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2019 3:11 PMI'd try to do anything "feet on the streets" during the Westbrook Together
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
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 AlphaOne 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 onthe streets as a person who is blind/visually impaired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y11qwgGmhok&hl=en%5FUS&version=3&rel=0
Behalf Of Kimberly Tarbox
-----Original Message-----
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2019 12:55 PMSystem. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the
To: Steve Kelley <SKelley@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Mini Immersion Day
EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside of the State of Maine Mail
sender and know the content is safe.
mini immersion day at Westbrook Together Days to give individuals a chance
The Westbrook Safe Mobility and Access Committee(WSMAC) is considering a
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
