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By Anita Shafer Aaron, Executive Director/CEO
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
There are several policy guidelines that, if embraced by San Francisco government and residents, would result in a much more accessible and usable community for blind and visually impaired residents and visitors.
Given San Francisco’s population, estimated to be 740,000, we can estimate the number of blind and visually impaired residents of San Francisco to be between 23,000 and 37,000. This is based on estimates from the American Foundation for the Blind and the Braille Institute. We also know that two-thirds of individuals who are visually impaired are over 65 which means it is critical to consider seniors when establishing policies and practices that affect individuals who are blind/visually impaired.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
It is our recommendation that the mayor support the name change of the Department of Aging and Adult Services and the Commission on Aging to the Department on Aging and Adults with Disabilities and the Commission on Aging and Adults with Disabilities.
This Department was created in 2000 to consolidate several small city/county departments into one combined unit. The Department of Aging and Adult Services unfunded, unwritten mandate to serve adults with disabilities and has created confusion and vastly inadequate funding to serve both seniors and adults with disabilities.
We support, in concept, the Disability and Senior Committee of the People’s Budget Coalition in terms of its recommendations for needed services and the additional funding requested by the Department of Aging and Adult Services to address unmet service needs.
WEB PAGES & INTERNET ACCESS
San Francisco should steadfastly enforce its policy that all city and county websites should be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities including visually impaired individuals who use audible screen reading programs, braille displays and large print software.
Likewise, any public-private partnership to create citywide internet access should include requirements for accessibility features and should be beta-tested by professionals who are visually impaired.
Resources:
World Wide Web Consortium
Web Access Initiative Guidelines and Recommendations
TRANSPORTATION AND PATH OF TRAVEL:
No new system, such as 511, should be created that does not include seamless ways for visually impaired transit users to obtain the same information as sighted transit users.
San Francisco should adopt a policy to install Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at all controlled intersections in San Francisco like those currently installed at 17 intersections; many as a part of the T line development.
INCLUSION:
Good customer service is many times the best access for someone who is visually impaired. Well-trained, professional staff who can give clear and accurate directions, read print signage and/or direct visually impaired individuals to alternative formats to print information such as braille, large print and electronic media create access that allows visually impaired citizens to use city services, participate in government and conduct their daily business. Performance standards should be included in position descriptions within the city and county of San Francisco to ensure individuals with disabilities receive appropriate customer service.
EMPLOYMENT:
San Francisco will be facing a significant shortage in our government workforce as baby-boomers begin to retire. And, the unemployment rate for individuals with significant vision loss is reported to be 70%. Encouragement and support should be given to the Department of Human Resources to continue exploring how to recruit and accommodate individuals with disabilities, including those who are blind and visually impaired, to become part of the city’s workforce solution.
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Anita Shafer Aaron is the Executive Director/CEO of the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The LightHouse promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or visually impaired through rehabilitation training and relevant services, such as access to employment, education, government, information, recreation, transportation and the environment.
Note: Articles are posted for the purpose of generating ideas and honest debate on how San Francisco can live up to its full promise and potential. Posting of an article does not imply an endorsement by the author of Gavin Newsom for Mayor, nor an endorsement by Gavin Newsom for Mayor of the positions set forth in the article.
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April 5th, 2007 at 10:58 am
when you make a community safer for the blind and hearing impaired, it has a tendency to make that same community safer for everybody - www.likroper.com
April 5th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
It is essential and vital that San Francisco be a leader in helping the visually impaired person. Many of our clients ask me in our First Friday Support group, “why isn’t more being done?” There is definitely a need for improved and accessible transportation for seniors and the disabled. The system, while great for people who don’t have any disablities, does not reflect that it serves the disabled.
Inclusion of the visually impaired and others that are disabled, in all areas is of the greatest importance considering that many people are now approaching their senior years. It is deplorable that the housing shortage is so bad for seniors and disabled individuals. Many of them have to resort to living in dangerous conditions.
Visual Impairments affect many people, not just seniors. Yes, we will have an influx of baby boomers who will be approaching a ‘coming of age’ so to speak and they will need to be educated as to how to live with a visual impairment. Just giving them a white cane is not the answer. These people are NOT BLIND by any definition of the word but have usable sight. They can be educated to use the sight that they have. Accessiblity for the visually impaired individual is vital for his or her quality of life. Just because one is visually limited does not mean they have to just walk around with a white cane all their life. Most of the visually limited do not need a white cane but need the correct visual aid! Visually impaired people do not like to be grouped in with the blind either! They want their independence!
Not to get on a tirade but there are many areas that can be improved upon by the City and County of San Francisco. We were innovators with regards to disabilities and need to continue to be at the forefront when it comes to persons with disablities.
One area that concerns me personally is the treatment of those that live in assisted living facilities and the lack of correct reporting of incidents. Many individuals are taken advantage of and despite mandated reporting it continues. We all need to be watchdogs for the disabled community!
It is also unfortunate that the definition of legal blindness eliminates many people suffering from visual impairments. One should not have to be legally blind to recieve help, or maybe the definition will need to change. What will happen when the 65 million baby boomers start to experience problems like macular degeneration, but are not ‘legally blind’ and find they cannot get any help financially? It is a situation that will bring on many problems. We often have people who come to National Association for Visually Handicapped that cannot get any government help because they are not ‘legally blind’ by the governments definition but they are visually limited and need help!
Employment is another problem and employers need to sit up and take notice of the person that is visually impaired but can still do the job!
Transportation needs to be addressed and many of our clients tell me that they have a terrible time getting around…this is something that cannot continue and there needs to be a usable system set in motion! San Franciscans’ need to support better transpertation that will be inclusive of all citizens of San Francisco!
Here’s to Mayor’s Council on Disabilities and to the hard effort that they make to serve the population of people that have disabilities here in San Francisco!
Pamela Fitzgerald, MSCP, MSCJA
Associate Director National Association for Visually Handicapped
507 Polk Street, Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.775.NAVH (6284)
Email: Pamela@navh.org
www.navh.org