Caps Connection - 12/06/2007 (Plain Text Version)

Bill Owens, CAPS, CGR
Chair

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In this issue:
Bill Owens, CGR, CAPS Awarded First Annual Homes for Life Award
Chairman's Letter
Remodelers Put On Thinking CAPS
CAPS & CGR Graduates Celebrate Las Vegas Style
Funding for Home Modifications & Programs
CAPS Class Schedule for December & Beyond
IBS Education Seminars, Meetings & Events
New Bath Safety Products Emerge for Demanding Boomers
Aging-In-Place Checklists
Partners in Remodeling for Aging in Place
Experiencing Aging In Place
Universal Call
San Francisco to Install Accessible Pedestrian Signals
Thank You to Our Strategic Sponsors
CAPS Board of Governors

San Francisco to Install Accessible Pedestrian Signals

The City of San Francisco has pledged to spend at least $1.6 million over the next two and a half years to install accessible pedestrian signals.

The state-of-the art signaling devices will assist visually impaired pedestrians by emitting a rapid ticking sound in tandem with the familiar WALK symbol displayed for sighted pedestrians. Other accessibility features include locator tones and vibrating pushbuttons to help those with visual impairments locate the devices, and the ability to provide helpful audible information such as street names when pedestrians press the pushbutton for one second or longer.

The agreement between the city and representatives for people who are blind and visually impaired was reached through a collaborative process known as structured negotiations. It represents the first of its kind in the nation, according to advocates for the blind and visually impaired community.

Under the agreement, the city will:

Install the new signals at no fewer than 80 intersections before the end of 2009
Seek additional funding for more installations
Develop a policy for San Francisco residents to request accessible pedestrian signals at other intersections

“We commend San Francisco for being the first public entity in the United States to voluntarily sign a comprehensive agreement regarding accessible pedestrian signals devices that are critical for pedestrian safety,” said Anita Aaron, Executive Director of the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

In addition to the City, parties to the agreement are the California Council of the Blind, the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, and Damien Pickering, a blind individual.

In the negotiations, the blind and visually impaired community was represented by well-known and highly respected disability rights lawyers Lainey Feingold and Linda M. Dardarian.

Source: REMODELING Magazine, Publication date: November 1, 2007