they call me an expert, but i’m not an expert! · they call me an expert, but i’m not an...

They Call me an Expert, But I’m not an Expert!

How to be the Expert You Really Are!

Meg Robertson COMS

Director Orientation & Mobility Department

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

Meg.Robertson@massmail.state.ma.us

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you

seem, and smarter than you think”

Christopher Robin/A.A. Milne

WHY BOTHER?

Go to Y-tube & search blindness

Consolidation of Blind agencies

Lack of funding for Blind services

Many other professionals don’t knows our profession exists!Travel Training issues

OT & PT Issues

REMEMBER,AT MANY AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS YOU MAY BE THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL TRAINED IN VISION LOSS.

WE WANT OUR CONSUMERS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR COMMUNITIES!

BUT, I JUST WANT TO TEACH O&M!

AND….

…I’m not smart enough

…Someone else must know more than me.

…I’ve only been in the field a short time.

…I’m not important enough.

…No one will listen to me.

…Someone else will take care of it.

….I’m a small cog….

BEING AN EXPERT IS NOT ABSOLUTE…

Someone always will know then you!

Think about these groups:Parents

Teachers

Teenagers

BUT DO YOU OR YOUR CONSUMERS DEAL WITH...

…Broken Sidewalks?

COMPLEX INTERSECTIONS

Geometric design

Rounded curbs

Curb cuts with or without detectable warnings

Blended curbs

Slip-lanes

Bike lanes

Intersection signalization (Actuated)

Rapid Flashing Beacons

Ped Hybrid Beacon/HAWK

Right on Red

Protected Turns (left & right)

Mid Street crossings

TRAFFIC ISSUES

Distracted drivers & Bicyclists

Lack of Yielding

Loud traffic

Quieter & Hybrid cars

Crowded streetscapes

PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY ISSUES

APS

DW & Curbcut Placement

Pedestrian Work Zone Barriers

Roundabouts

Actuated Intersections

Sidewalk Issues Access to Shopping Malls Sidewalk snow removal issues Brick Sidewalks Telephone Placement on sidewalk Repair of sidewalks

SIDEWALKS ACCESS ISSUES

CURB CUT PLACEMENT

DW

detectable warningCurb ramp withFlared side

Sidewalk

24

61

0

24” detectable warning shall be placed at the bottom of curb ramps, excluding flares.

CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES

There are accessible portable construction barriers.

Construction barriers should be stable, continuous, and have a bottom rail.

SIDEWALK ACCESS FROM ACCESS TO AND FROM THE MAIN SIDEWALK

SOLUTION S

Local Community Development Departments can require this as part of their permit requirements.

HEAD HEIGHT SIGNS

TRAFFIC SIGNS HEIGHT….

WAYFINDING SIGNAGE

Is it accessible?

WINTER ACCESS ISSUES? Access to the sidewalk

Access to street crossings & traffic walk signal polesPolicies, procedures, education and enforcement

ADA issue

LACK OF APS OR

OR INCORRECT PLACEMENT

OR… S

LACK OF CONTRASTED STAIR TREADS?

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY…

TRANSIT ACCESS ISSUES

SOLUTION: FAN ON THE CEILING

ADVOCACY DOES WORK…..

Access to all gates

Transit passes for O&M training

Replacement of floor fans to ceiling fans

PEDESTRIAN BARRICADES

SOLUTION

OTHER ISSUES WHICH IMPACT FOLKS WHO HAVE VISION LOSS

Lack of Transportation Options

Wayfinding

Contrast & Lighting

Emergency Preparedness Planning

Print Access Issues

Website accessibility

Dementia Research Fall Research

IF YOU DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES…

You need to be able to advocate for the Individuals you work with in making the environments safer. You know what needs to be done! You are the Vision Professional!Who else will know what needs to be

done? If you don’t-who will? If no one complains-nothing will

change!

DIFFERENT AGENCIES YOU MAY DEAL WITH OR SHOULD DEAL WITH…

Pedestrian Groups

Elder Services

Department of Public Health

School Systems

Traffic Engineers

Dept. of Public Work Staff (Local & State)

Transit Agencies and Organizations

Emergency Disaster Agencies

Planning Commissions

Zoning Commissions

Local neighborhood groups

Chamber of Commerce

Safe Routes to Schools

Local Commission on Disabilities

Independent Living Centers

ATTEND MEETINGS

Sometimes just attending is enough!Transportation & Community Development

Pedestrian groupsSenior groupsCommission on Disabilities Public HealthConsumer Groups

START SLOW….BE A SALESMAN!

Develop Fact Sheets: If you get one question, there will be another. If you get a phone call for information-ask if they want anything sent out…Human GuideResources on what your agency provides or what your O&M services are.

911 DISABILITY INDICTOR FORM

Complaints:Font terribleFont size too small

State Form “Can’t change it”

WELL, I WORK FOR THE STATE SO I CHANGED IT FOR MY CONSUMERS

Reduced margins

Increased font size

Change font to Arial Made it much more readable!

Issues:

MCB Lawyer How reach agency which developed the form

Form is now in larger print & much more readable! Not ‘Large Print”

PUBLIC HEALTH MEETINGS

Having Low vision is one of the major risk factors for falls.

Statewide Committee of Fall Risk members did not include any agency which works with individuals with vision loss!

Dementia Research

PROVIDE HANDOUTS & RESOURCE LISTS

Have a Resource List on your department and services. (OM Department Handout)

Don’t assume that anyone knows what you do…

Invite staff to observe a lesson.

Design display boards for presentations.

Learn how to download clip art

Learn how to copy & paste

Invest in a laminator

Have a camera with you.

Learn Powerpoint

BUT I CAN’T SPEAK IN FRONT OF PEOPLE!

BUT YOU TALK IN FRONT OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY!

EducationGiving folks information that they need to improve the quality of life for the consumers you work with.

REMEMBER YOU ARE THE VISION PROFESSIONAL!

You know a lot! If you are not sure, say you’ll get back to them & get the information.Be as concise as you can.For example don’t ask just for an APS, but include information, locator tone, type of sound, etc.

ELEVATOR STORIES

*Develop short stories which illustrated your issues

*Short talking points

TOOLS

Learn PowerPoint!

Take photos

Make up handouts

Write up letter to use as template

Letter to editors

White Cane Day-good PR event

Contact City/State officials

Attend conferences & workshopsMass. Ped & Bike Conference

Follow up

Keep notes

Follow up

Follow up

RESOURCESGET ON MAILING OR EMAIL LISTS!

World Braille Day: January 4th Louis Braille Birthday www.nbp.org

International White Cane Day: October 15th

World Sight Day: Held on the 2nd Thursday of October, is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness & vision impairment. Included in the World Health Calendar- http://www.vision2020.org

January: Glaucoma Awareness & Braille Literacy Month

World Braille Day: January 4th Louis Braille Birthday www.nbp.org

February: AMD & Low Vision Month

May: Health Vision & Older Americans’ Month

June: Helen Keller’s Birthday 6/27 Deafblindness week & Vision Research Month

August: Cataract Awareness Month

September: Healthy Aging

October: Eye Injury Prevention Month & White Cane Safety DayWorld Sight Day: Held on the 2nd Thursday of October, is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness & vision impairment. Included in the World Health Calendar- http://www.vision2020.org

November: Diabetic Eye Disease Month

POWER OF 25 AND THE COMMITMENT OF “2”

Getting 25 folks together to unit for a common cause. 2 E-mails

2 Letters

2 Phone calls

2 Meetings

8 Contacts x 25 people=200 contacts/year

Four times a week, a local decision maker will hear about your cause

SHIFTING SANDS

DISCUSSION!

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say "It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem." Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” ― Fred Rogers

THANKS FOR COMING!

Meg Robertson COMS

Director, Orientation & Mobility Department

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

Meg.Robertson@massmail.state.ma.us

617-626-7581