they call me an expert, but i’m not an expert! · they call me an expert, but i’m not an...
TRANSCRIPT
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
“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
617-626-7581
