[Mt-blind] MAB Position on Accessible Pedestrian Signals

[Jim Marks]

One other argument used to support audible pedestrian signals is that blind
people should enjoy access to the same information others enjoy.  In other
words, if sighted people can see a walk sign, then why can't blind people
hear one?  The interesting thing about this argument is that it neglects
what it means to be blind and how blind people function.  Accessibility can
be a very good thing, but it is not the answer to every issue.  Blind people
can either modify the environment or modify our own attitudes and behaviors
to function in a respected manner.  We often blend the two for the best
effect.  But no amount of environmental changes will ever make blindness go
away.  And, if we respond with environment solutions in every instance, we
enslave ourselves to the accessibility.  I want to be able to function in
any environment.  This is why I like to emphasize learning the skills of
blindness and deemphasize environmental changes when I can.  Of course,
there are instances in which only environmental changes will do.  It's just
that asking for audible pedestrian signals based on equal treatment is plain
goofy.  I'm blind, for goodness sake, and I do not use sighted techniques to
function.  I do not want to get what sighted people want or need; rather, I
want what blind people want and need.




Jim Marks
blind.grizzly at GMail.com