THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING METHODS TO ENABLE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEDESTRIANS TO USE TACTILE SURFACES

Tactile surfaces are special footway surfaces that provide environmental information and warning to visually impaired people. The research was concerned with developing: training techniques to enable visually impaired people, who use existing mobility aids, such as guide dogs, long canes and short canes, to use tactile surfaces. Two approaches to training were assessed: hands-on training, where people were taught to use tactile surfaces in a city centre environment, and training in the home where people were taught how to use an information pack which described the tactile surfaces. Both methods of training took into account the use of different mobility aids. The results of the research show that the amount of time spent training people in situ can be substantially reduced if people have been introduced to the idea and concept of the tactile surfaces, by first using the information pack. A visual record of the experimental research has enabled a video to be produced which demonstrates the research programme and the most appropriate methods of training visually impaired people, with different mobility- aids, to use tactile surfaces. (A)

• Corporate Authors:

  Cranfield Institute of Technology, England

  Cranfield MK43 OAL, Bedfordshire,   England 
• Authors:
  • GALLON, C
  • FOWKES, A
  • SIMMS, B
• Publication Date: 1992-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 50 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blindness; Education; Pedestrians; Persons with disabilities; Safety; Walkways
• ITRD Terms: 2075: Blindness; 1726: Disabled person; 2284: Education; 2720: Footway; 1733: Pedestrian; 1665: Safety
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962759
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 3 2003 12:00AM