Proceedings of: Workshop on Improving Building Design for Persons with Low Vision

Introduction

Twenty-four Initiatives on accessibility have been started by new Commissioner.

iCAN instituted to streamline solutions and assistance for employees with disabilities (slide 1).

IRS has approximately 10,000 employees with disabilities.

Disabilities covered: blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, mobility impairment, loss of limbs, psychological, and cognitive (slide 1).

Focus Groups being conducted at IRS Facilities

Managers find it time consuming and often confusing to find the right reasonable accommodation process and other disability-related help (“Took hours to find up to date information on the Reasonable Accommodation process because the information was scattered in different places”) (slide 2).

Safety for employees with disabilities, particularly during emergencies, was a recurring theme among managers and employees (slide 3).

Building accessibility and navigation were raised as problems in several locations (slide 3).

Conclusions

Employees would like to be empowered to resolve their own problems using a Web site like iCAN (slide 4).

Managers need a tool to save them time and to get issues resolved quickly so their employees can be fully engaged and productive (slide 4).

Introduction

Some Vision Research Relevant to Built Environment Codes & Standards (slide 1)

Research is being funded by NIH/NEI.

No standardized tests for glare.

Description of Smith-Kettlewell Institute (SKI) Study

Study Goals (slide 10)

• To assess vision function comprehensively in an older population

• To explore relationships between vision function and visual task performance

Study Population (slide 11)

Visual Function Measures (slides 12 and 13)

• Examples (slides 14 – 17)

Results from SKI Study

Degradation of Standard Visual Acuity with Age (slide 18)

Exacerbation of Low Contrast Acuity in Glare and other Visual Functions with Age (slides 19 and 20)

Percentages failing to meet criteria as functions of age (slides 21 and 22)

Percent of those with 20/40 or better standard high contrast visual acuity who are “legally blind” (20/200 or 10 times worse) on non-standard measures as functions of age (slide 23)

Implications from SKI Study

Impact of Poor Low Contrast Vision on Task Performance and Face Recognition (slides 24 – 39)

• Low contrast vision losses will clearly affect lipreading.

• Effects will be worse in the presence of glare.

• Reading facial expressions, eye contact and other aspects of communication also affected for a large segment of society including many with “normal” vision and hearing.

Safety and Mobility

Photographic examples of hazards (slides 40 – 55).

Role of Alternative Signage

Braille signs can help but have to be found before they can be read (slide 56).

Audible signs are another alternative for which standards already exist (slides 57 – 64).

ANSI (2003). Section 703.8: Remote Infrared Audible Sign (RIAS) System (slides 65 – 66).

Revised ADA Regulations Implementing Title II and Title III, September 15, 2010, (slides 67 – 69).

Design Recommendations from reference: Peter Barker, Jon Barrick & Rod Wilson. 1995. Building Sight: A handbook of building and interior design solutions to include the needs of visually impaired people. JMU Publication (slides 70 – 74)

Bollards should be a minimum of 1 m high, and color contrasted with the background against which they will be viewed. They should also have a contrasting band near the top.

Bollards should be a minimum of 1 m high, and color contrasted with the background against which they will be viewed. They should also have a contrasting band near the top.

Distinguish doors and doorways with visual contrast.

Highlight glazed doors and side panels with prominent signs, logos or decorative features at eye level.

Provide 2" wide contrasting nosings on stairs.

Handrails should contrast visually with background surfaces.

Floor finishings should contrast with walls or a contrasting skirting should be provided.

Provide means of controlling natural and artificial light.

Aim for uniformity of illumination, avoiding strong shadows.

Signs should be consistent, using prescribed typefaces, colors and graphics.

Overall Conclusions (slides 74 – 75)

Vision under conditions of low contrast, glare and low light is impaired even in “normal” people as they age, and much more so in people with low vision.

Contrast, Glare and Lighting are vital considerations for making the built environment more friendly to elders and people with low vision.

Simple environmental modifications (e.g., high contrast painting of edges, handrails, door jabs, etc) can help a lot.

Knowing contrast levels of features & signs, we can estimate what proportion of the older population can see them.

Alternative signage can be part of the overall solution.

Introduction

What Our Laws and Regulations Do Not Say About Low Vision and the Built Environment (slides 1 and 2).

Low vision poses special issues for planners (and designers) (slide 3).

• The low vision population in this country is large and growing. Current estimates indicate over 25 million with vision problems.

• The population is comprised of people who have normal age-related vision loss as well as people with eye conditions that affect vision temporarily or permanently.

• Most of these individuals are used to having good vision and may not have adapted to reduced vision nor have most of them had low vision services.

• Most have received no skills training such as orientation to the environment, trailing or self-protective techniques, nor braille.

• Most do not use mobility canes.

• If traveling with others, most do not know proper sighted guide techniques.

• Many older individuals experience hearing losses. These can be disorienting and also make it difficult for persons to interpret verbal directions and to localize sounds.

Some Existing Codes/Standards/Guidelines on Lighting

Low Vision Issues not covered in Codes/Standards/Guidelines

Conclusions: Design Concepts that Enhance Wayfinding (slide 14)

Increasing “visibility” with high contrast.

Providing sufficient lighting and glare control.

Using logical, consistent layouts in building design.

Eliminating extra/distracting sounds/echoes.

Using tactile/visual surfaces for flooring.

Consistently placing signage in large print and Braille (ADA requires raised print or Braille).

References (slides 15 and 16)

Entrances (slides 3 and 4)

Additional comments:

• Need better signage at entrances

• Handle locations should be consistent

Ramps (slide 5)

Route of Travel (slide 6)

Rooms and Spaces (slide 7)

Additional comments:

• Low power density (i.e., ASHRAE 90.1-2010) with high intensity lighting increases contrast and glare problems.

• Perimeters need to lighted higher on walls.

Emergency Egress (slide 8)

Additional comment:

• Location of flashing lights is too high.

Signage

For Goods and Services (slide 9)

For Directions and Information (slide 10)

Vertical Circulation

Stairs (slide 11)

Elevators (slide 12)