[misc.handicap] bariers to Independence

Charles.Crawford@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Charles Crawford) (01/15/91)

Index Number: 12943

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Ann,

I was reading your message to Jamal and stopped short at the
shocking incident of your friend "Sara" having been killed at a
busy intersection.  The fact is that this is the fifth report I
have heard of a blind person being killed in a traffic situation
within the last few years.  While we can take some real comfort in
the fact that literally tens of thousands of crossings are made
each day on busy streets by blind folks; there is a sense of "how
can this happen" when we hear of it. Sometimes we can understand,
but never accept anyone being killed by motor vehicles.  I know of
a tragedy in which a teenager who was not blind was killed by a
driver who was unable to see for the few moments when the sun burst
through his windshield and the teenager was crossing the street. I
know also of a blind couple who died in a senseless incident where
a driver couldn't wait for another driver who stopped to let them
cross, and just swerved around the first car and ran them over. We
sent letters from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to ask for a
report and the laws or dispensation of justice in the other State
did far less than I think acceptable.

Can you find out more and write to me at the Massachusetts
Commission for the Blind? (88 Kingston Street, Boston Ma 02111)
since I would be interested to know if a "full investigation" were
in fact conducted.

I have been an advocate for the chirping birds audio signal at
lights and it seems to work well in those place in Massachusetts
that have them.  there's also a new device that lets out a low buzz
when the light changes and has a touch pad for a deaf/blind person
to feel as well.  Otherwise, that device is the regular walk box
everyone is used to.

It's the holidays and we should not dwell on such sadness, but I
simply had to respond to your message since life is the best gift
we have and to see it lost for nothing cannot be forgotten.

--
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