Audible pedestrian signal at our Center
Advocacy does work! I saw a stunning example of this today. This past Monday, advocates met at the Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) to discuss the lack of audible and accessible pedestrian signals in Rochester and throughout Monroe County. Arlene and I went, along with a couple of ADAPT members. Also present were staff from ABVI, as well as folks from the local chapter of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), staff from County Legisaltor, Stephanie Aldersley’s office, and Terry Rice, from the County, and Jim Pond, who is the County engineer, and who determines where to place the audible pedestrian signals.
This was a follow-up meeting to one that was held several weeks ago. Stephanie Aldersley wanted to get as many stakeholders together as possible because she was hearing conflicting information about whether the audible and accessible signals were needed. Unfortunately, she was sick, and could not make this meeting.
We discussed the importance of the audible signals, and why there were so few in the County. County staff spoke of the procedure that they follow to install the pedestrian signals, but as Arlene pointed out, there is no real procedure, and county officials seemed to doubt ordinary people’s ability to know what they need, and tended to take a request more seriously when a professional, or someone associated with an organization was involved. In fact, Arlene and I were very passionate in our discussions with the county folk. I spoke of the fact that the street crossing at our Center is in dire need of an audible pedestrian signal, and was denied that when we first applied. Jim says that it was determined that the real problem was the curb cuts, which were in horrible condition, and which led into the intersection, so they got those fixed. I suggested that since Terry Rice kept saying that they were not receiving many requests from the public, that they should initiate a public education campaign so that the public would know where to call to request an audible pedestrian signal. This was not well received, and that led to Arlene’s pointing out that they had no procedure, and that perhaps there needs to be a study of where blind and visually impaired folks travel, so that the signals could at least be placed in those areas. Oddly, the county seems to be proud of the fact that there are 15 crossings out of over 600 in the city and county that have audible signals. Indeed, I felt a sense of resistance from the county employees. Perhaps, we unconsciously let on about our feelings because the county folks, Terry and Jim, kept telling us that they felt that we were approaching them as if they always say no.
To make a long story short, the meeting was interesting, and we all promised to work together. I asked Jim Pond to take a look at our site again, because I thought that the signal on the Northeast corner was difficult to get to for someone who uses a wheelchair. When I got back to the office, I received a call from Jim Pond. He told me that he had checked our corner, and found that the area around the signal that I had described had been paved, but that the button on the signal on the Northwest corner was in the wrong position. He promised that this would be taken care of in two weeks, and also promised that we would get an audible signal there. He didn’t say when though, so I figured that it would be a few months.
Imagine my surprise when today, after work, I went to wait for the bus, and not only saw that the button on the traffice signal had been placed in the proper spot (and was accessible, to boot), but the pedestrian signal was now audible! I couldn’t believe my ears. I was flabbergasted, yet ecstatic. I called Arlene and told her, and she couldn’t beleive it, either. I am going to call Jim Pond tomorrow and thank him. If anyone ever tells me tha advocacy doesn’t work, I will point to this example, among others. Advocates must speak truth to power, persevere, and never give up hope. Sometimes, it takes years to achieve a victory. Sometimes, the victory happens when you least expect it.