Contents:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Well, spring is nearly sprung, but where was our winter, especially in Anchorage? We didn't see much snow, even though Ski for Light expected it. Perhaps, Tom Torvie, a long-time member will write about it. Ski for Light should have been held in Denver, New York City, or Baltimore, perhaps, where there was an extra helping of snow.
Those going to the mid-year meeting had to high-tail it out of there to avoid being snowed in in mid-February, wanting to stay for the ACB Board meeting, but Sandy Sanderson and Lynne Koral dared not chance it, and made it home to Anchorage in the nick of time.
Two meetings are scheduled for the Help America Vote Act, (HAVA), which calls for ten voting machines to be placed by 2004 in regional offices, including absentee voting stations of which Access Alaska is one. High volume areas with large numbers of people with disabilities will get consideration, and it is hoped that the Anchorage Senior Center will be one, with its high concentration of seniors. One meeting was held just yesterday, March 26, 2003, and the other one to approve the state plan, and bring it forth for public comment will be held on April 10. AIB will keep you posted on further events. The other representative of people with disabilities is Jim Beck, Access Alaska Executive Director who is also on the State Plan Committee. Laura Glaiser, the new Director for the Division of Elections is working hard to implement the state's plan and move voting access from the theoretical to the actual. Voting stations will have to have at least one accessible machine for people with disabilities.
Stay tuned, and look for an accessible voting machine, and your access to privacy for the first time as a blind person coming to your neighborhood polling station very soon. People with disabilities are the last disenfranchised group of people to vote secretly and privately.
AIB is also reminding members that scholarships will be given PROVIDED you apply for them before May 15, 2003. If you are a returning student later in life, or just starting the university, or embarking on a training program and need some scholarship assistance, the Louise Rude Scholarship is for you. Please call our office if you need an application, and one will be sent ASAP.
TRANSPORTATION
A preview of the announcement about the transportation survey was mentioned in our Winter newsletter. If you do nothing else, flip to the back of this newsletter or the end of the cassette edition, and mail, phone, e-mail, or by whatever method please get the info for tallying in the National Office by April 28, 2003, so we can set and implement policy on transportation access in the United States for blind people. It will be downloaded from the ACB website, and you can call if you need a hand with filling it out. It has to reach the National Office at the end of April, which is part of the reason that I am hot to get this newsletter out. It covers such areas as tracking paratransit service, training of drivers, eligibility to services, the community you live in and what modes of transportation are available in your community, and much, much more. Look for it in this issue. It was available in an insert in "The Braille Forum," in February 2003.
THANK YOU
As is usual, we want to thank some people for their support and help. Access Alaska was overrun with equipment, and we were the generous beneficiaries of three file cabinets. Now, files stuffed into drawers in one desk can be put into files in these cabinets. Yahoo! We bought from a surplus location some large monitors, and a desk for one of our part-time office workers.
If you are asking what is going on with our various cases, we still cannot go into anything about AIB, however, your prayers are welcome and appreciated. Keep doing that.
We want to again thank Karen Sullivan for taping the last newsletter, and helping in the office every once in a while. She is an irreplaceable asset to us helping with one extra pair of eyes to straighten up files and do other office work. We can never repay her for her generous time.
Thank you to Jim and Joy Swartz for their support and help with making this newsletter look as good as it can. It is a pleasure to have such hard workers as Jim and Joy Swartz who work far beyond what is asked, since they both have busy lives. It will be mailed out very soon because of their expert help, and help from Daniel Shanis, also.
Thank you is not said often enough to Pat Price who puts the newsletter and other stuff on the website at www.acb.org/alaska/ as she does for several other affiliates. She gives her time with no more than the thanks we give, and we do appreciate her help all the way from Indiana.
STATE CONVENTION
You guessed it. We have planned our state convention for October 9-11, 2003 in Anchorage at the West Coast International Inn. Mark your calendar now for those dates. This gives you plenty of time to plan your schedule right from the get-go of the New Year. We are going back there since we have had such good luck with their staff before. It is an old favorite with conventioneers, and it is accessible for more legislators. Please, start letting us know what topics and issues are of interest or importance to you in 2003. We do not yet have plans about who to bring from the national organization. We'll let you know when we make a decision about that.
The national convention for American Council of the Blind will be held from July 5-12 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Call if you have any questions about either of these important events. The lead hotel is the Westin and the overflow hotel is the Hilton. The Convention Center will be used for all general sessions and many afternoon meetings. Watch "The Braille forum," for information about our national convention.
CELL PHONE ARTICLES
Richie Gardenhire, our Youth and Technology Chairman, has e-mailed some interesting articles related to cell phone access. Here goes.
Braille Cell Phone Manuals
by Jeanne-Marie
Moore
This is cool, pass this along to as many blind people as you know because I'm not sure if there are many blind people aware of this. There is a company that Brailles out manuals for cell phones. You know how on your cell phone, those menus are tricky, and you have to press a bunch of different buttons just to change your ringer, or just to program one specific setting on your cell phone, well they now have Braille cell phone manuals. The manual will tell you where each button is located on your cell phone and how many times to press each button to set whatever it is you wish to set. For example, to change the ringer sound on my phone, I have to press the okay button to activate the menu, then the left arrow four times, then okay again, then the down arrow twice, then okay again, then I can scroll through the ring sounds and choose the sound I want. This manual will tell you exactly how to do whatever it is you want to do in each menu. They have generic manuals for all cell phones. You need to have your model of your phone when you call and tell them the model of your phone you have and the company you are with. Mine is a keisera 2235 model and I'm with Verizen Wireless. So that's all you tell them and they send you a manual based upon that information.
The number to get the manual is (858) 882-2003. They have consulted and experimented this manual out with several blind users. They also encourage feedback. From what I understand, they update the manuals from time to time, and if there are other features that are currently not in the manual that you would like to see in the manual, tell them about it. Hope this comes to good use for some of you. Definitely let others know about it because this is pretty useful for most blind cell phone users.
Nokia Improvements for Blind People
Perhaps you got something sent to you about the new Nokia 9290, which will be coming to the US in February 2003, but if you didn"t, it is a cell phone with a speech chip and speech software/screenreader that will help blind people program their unit. In addition, text messages/e-mail can be read by means of a series ofr commands and the screenreader, which is called Talx, prompts you with menus and dialog boxes. Unfortunately, it won't, as yet, work with OE-based e-mail folders as yet, but Nokia has plans in the works to make it accessible with Outlook Express. For anyone wishing to get more information, the website is: www.nokiausa.com.
ZOOMTEXT - CAN TOTALLY BLIND
PEOPLE USE IT EFFICIENTLY?
by Richard Gardenhire
Zoomtext is a magnification software program that has become one of the most popular programs for persons with low vision and has even found success in the braille-reading market. I, for one, use it almost exclusively. First, let me explain what it does. For people with residual vision, it is a great screen magnification program that, when tailored to an individual's needs, makes the screen very easy to read. And with some added features in Zoomtext Xtra 7.11, video drivers are becoming compatible. One can magnify the screen from two to sixteen times larger so the print text is easy to read and there is less strain on the eyes. Editing text is fairly simple; there is a "doc" reader setting for reading e-mail, web pages, and word documents from MS-Word or WordPerfect files. For the Totally Blind... With the release of version 7X, Zoomtext has added speech with its magnification software. By default, when installing, Level 2 is recommended because it is both a magnifier and a screenreader that was originally intended for people with learning disabilities. But I found that with a little creativity, a totally blind person can use it and the speech is of very good quality. The down side is that the "doc" reader is a little tricky and only works with certain programs. However, in e-mail programs such as Outlook Express or Eudora, a totally blind person can simply copy the text in his/her e-mail to the clipboard by using the key combination of CTRL+a, followed by CTRL+c, followed by CTRL+b. The advantage to this is that if you missed a portion of the message, by simply pressing CTRL+b, the text can be read over again. Once the text is deselected, the clipboard is automatically emptied for the next selected text. This will work with Internet Explorer, too. You can adjust the speed, volume, and pitch of the voices and if you are using a software synthesizer such as Truevoice, (the software that is included in Zoomtext), or if you have multiple software synthesizers, one can switch them on the fly. Online help is always available and the manual is written in a nontechnical manner. Exciting Things to Come... Version 8 of Zoomtext, (to be released next spring), will have some innovative features that will make it even better. In addition to continued support for speech and magnification, it will have support for braille displays and reading software. It will compete head-to-head with the Super Nova program from Dolphin and will be competitively priced. I don't know if the problem with the "doc" reader has been remedied; this Doc Reader tool was one of the selling points for this particular program. But with the support of braille displays, a visually-impaired person can assist a totally blind person with any displayed graphics that speech cannot translate. A couple can share the same screen, using the braille display feature as well as the magnification, or you can have all three features going at the same time. A Word of Caution... For the totally blind user, if you are running Windows XP, it is advisible to have a sighted person tell you what is displayed in your DCM (Digital Communication Management) file/folders. This is crucial if you want speech to run properly. It is not necessary in Win95/98/ME. However, I believe that version 8.0 will fix this problem. In Conclusion... Zoomtext is a powerful program that can be used quite successfully by a totally blind user, and with the release of version 8.0, will be even more user-friendly. I would recommend that if one purchases this software package, that he/she also gets the SMA (Software Maintainance Agreement) along with it. Even with the added expense, it is a fraction of the cost \ of JFW or Window-Eyes. For more information, go to www.aisquared.com. For further questions or technical information, write to: sales@aisquared.com.
WOMEN'S CONCERNS
by Marvelena Quesada
Thank you very much. I am both honored and delighted that you have invited me to come and speak about women's concerns, and being on the Women's Concerns Committee this past year has been quite a treat for me. It has given me the opportunity to work with such distinguished people as Bernice Kandarian, Phyllis Burson, April Shinholster, and Jill Tobin. When I think of prominent women in Alaska, my mind immediately jumps to Lynne, Nugget, Deborah, and Bev Carlson.
The Women's concerns Committee was started back in 1978 when the World Blind Union held an international seminar on blind women. Billie Elder/Arkansas and Allma Murphy/Saint Louis returned from the seminar with the idea that a committee should be formed specifically to address women's concerns. Billie Elder chaired the committee until her death, when it was taken over by Bernice Kandarian, who still chairs it today.
Some of the things that we offer during a convention are weight-management seminars, make-up and fashion, breast self-exams, proper table setting instructions, communication between men and women, exercise, meditation, cooking, being a working woman. These are just a few that come to mind. We also try to have luncheons with different speakers who vary depending on where the convention is. One of our most popular events and certainly my favorite is breakfast rolls and role models where we put together a panel of 3-4 distinguished members of ACB to talk a bit about themselves and their experiences in the blindness movement. It gives the membership a chance to hear from people on a more personal level than they might ordinarily do. They ask questions, and talk to people 1 on 1. It is always packed to overflowing. Oh, and by the way, Sandy, I volunteered you to be on the program for next year.
Many states have been inspired to begin their own Women's Concerns Committee. I'm proud to tell you that California is one of them, and it's been quite effective. We have a small committee which meets either by telephone or by e-mail, and we try to put on at least one presentation per convention. We have found it to be effective and successful.
On a more serious note, women's concerns has been a great forum for women to feel comfortable expressing themselves, socializing with other women, and delving into issues that they face as women. For me, it has been a real treat to sit on the committee. Thank you very much.
Note: Marvelena never got to give this report at Convention, so it is printed here. (editor.)
MARVELENA'S FUNNY FORWARDS AND ANOTHER FOR YOUR FUNNYBONE
Two of these came from marvelena Quesada, and the third comes from Karen Coady, Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, who got information about the year 1902 from a neighbor of the mother of the residential manager, Cindi Martin, who passed away two summers ago.
(Editor.) Marvelena got hers from Kevin Berkery about men's rules, and no attribution was given for the voice-mail item.
Men always hear "the rules" from the women's side. Now here are the rules from the men's side. Please Note...these are all numbered 1 on purpose....
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.
1. Sunday = Sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Ask for what you want! Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. We don't remember dates. Mark birthdays and anniversaries on a calendar. Remind us frequently beforehand.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor
1. Check your oil! Please.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse to answer.
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both! If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo did not need directions, and neither do we!
1. The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two months we were going out. Get over it. And quit whining to your girlfriends!
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. And, we have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really!
1. You have enough clothes
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I'm in shape. ROUND is a shape.
1. BEER is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.
Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know we really don't mind that, its like camping.
Most of us have now learned to live with voice mail as a necessary part of our lives. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if God decided to instal voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the following:
Thank you for calling heaven. For English press 1 For Spanish press 2. For all other languages (including Hebrew and Latin), press 3.
Please select one of the following options: Press 1 for request. Press 2 for thanksgiving. Press 3 for complaints. Press 4 for all others.
I am sorry, all our Angels and Saints are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.
If you would like to speak to: God, press 1, Jesus, press 2, Holy Spirit, press 3.
To find a loved one that has been assigned to Heaven press 5, then enter his social security # followed by the dollar sign. (If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area code 666).
For reservations to Heaven, please enter ST JOHN followed by the numbers, 3 and 16.
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, life and other planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven for the specifics.
Our computers show that you have already been prayed for today, so please hang up and call again tomorrow.
The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday. If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your local vicar.
Thank you, and have a heavenly day.
Pass this on if you wish to brighten some one's day
YEAR OF 1902.
This ought to boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1902 ... one hundred years ago ... what a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. statistics for 1902: The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years. Only 14 Percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st-most populous state in the Union. The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower. The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour. The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year. More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home. Ninety percent of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard." Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee cost fifteen cents a pound. Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason. The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: 1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke. The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet. The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 30. Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented. There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. One in ten U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated high school. Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." 18 percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic. There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S. Just think what it will be like in another 100 years. ......It boggles the mind.....
TRANSPORTATION SURVEY
(For an easy to complete, Interactive Form, go to
www.acb.org/trans-survey.html)
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLINDAmerican Council of the Blind Survey on Transportation Availability, Needs & Uses Instructions for completing ACB's Transportation Survey: This survey is 57 questions in length and should take about 20 minutes to complete. It is designed as a multiple choice survey, so you don't need to provide additional written comments unless you want to. Follow the directions throughout the survey to answer each question. When you're done, press the "Submit your responses" button at the bottom of the survey form. Your survey will not be counted until you click this button. Thank you for taking the transportation survey. General Information About the Community Where You Live
1. City where you live
2. State where you live
3. Which of the following best defines where you live? (Check only one.)
____ Major metropolitan area (population of 2,000,000 or more)
____ Large metropolitan area (population between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000)
____ Large city (population between 500,000 and 1,000,000)
____ Medium-size city (population between 100,000 and 500,000)
____ Small city (population between 50,000 and 100,000)
____ Large town (population between 25,000 and 50,000)
____ Small town (population between 5,000 and 25,000)
____ Rural area (population of less than 5,000)
____ I don't know
4. Which of the following best describes the area where you live? (Check only one.) Urban/inner-city
____ Suburban area near but not within larger city
____ Small town not connected with any larger city or town
____ Rural area
General Information About Available Transportation in the Community Where You Live
5. Which of the following transportation alternatives are available where you live? (Check all that apply.)
____ Local transit bus system (Travels throughout my local area.)
____ Commuter bus system (Travels between my area and a nearby city or town.)
____ Light rail, rapid rail or subway system
____ Commuter train service
____ Commuter vanpool service
____ Carpool matching service
____ Local taxi company(ies)
____ Door-to-door or curb-to-curb paratransit system for people with disabilities or seniors.
____ Local organization with volunteer drivers
____ Over the road bus (like Greyhound) Intercity train service (like Amtrak)
____ Ferry or Water Taxi
____ Friends and family
____ Service providers (Medicaid / Medicare, supported employment rides etc.)
____ There is no transportation available in my community.
____ I don't know what's available in my community.
6. What hours is transportation currently available to you? (Check only one.)
____ 24 hours per day
____ 18 to 24 hours per day
____ 12 to 18 hours per day
____ 6 to 12 hours per day
____ Less than 6 hours per day
____ Transportation is not available to me.
____ I don't know when transportation is available to me.
____ Other - It varies. Please explain.
7. On which days of the week is transportation available? (Check all that apply.)
____ Sunday ____ Monday ____ Tuesday ____ Wednesday ____ Thursday ____ Friday ____ Saturday
____ I don't know when transportation is available to me.
____ Other - It varies. Please explain.
Information About Your Use of Various Transportation Systems in the Community Where You Live
8. Which of the following transportation services have you used within the past six months? (Check all that apply.)
____ Local transit bus system (Travels throughout my local area.)
____ Commuter bus system (Travels between my area and a nearby city or town.)
____ Light rail, rapid rail or subway system
____ Commuter train service
____ Commuter vanpool service
____ Carpool matching service
____ Local taxi company(ies)
____ Door-to-door or curb-to-curb paratransit system for people with disabilities or seniors.
____ Local organization with volunteer drivers
____ Over the road bus (like Greyhound)
____ Inter-city train service (like Amtrak)
____ Friends and family
____ Ferry or Water
____ Taxi Service provider (Medicaid/Medicare Supported employment ride etc.)
____ Other - Please specify.
9. How often do you travel during the average week? (Check only one.) I never travel outside my home.
____ 1-2 days per week
____ 2-3 days per week
____ 4-5 days per week
____ More than 5 days per week
10. Where do you travel. (Check all that apply.)
____ Work
____ Education
____ Medical/rehabilitation
____ Grocery shopping
____ Other shopping
____ Recreation (includes movies, eating out, etc.)
____ Civic and religious activities
____ Volunteer activities
____ Other - Please specify.
11. Which of the following activities are limited or impossible for you to do because of problems with, or a lack of adequate transportation? (Check all that apply.)
____ Work
____ Education
____ Medical/Rehabilitation
____ Grocery shopping
____ Other shopping
____ Recreation (includes movies, eating out, etc.)
____ Civic and religious activities
____ Volunteer activities
____ Other - Please specify.
12. On average, how much do you pay per trip (from origin to destination)? (Check only one.) Trips are free
____ $0 to $1.00
____ $1.01 to $3.00
____ $3.01 to $5.00
____ $5.01 to $7.00
____ $7.01 to $10.00
____ $10.01 or more
13. What amount would you be willing to pay per trip if the transportation were adequate? (Check only one.)
____ I think trips should be free
____ Up to $1.00
____ $1.01 to $3.00
____ $3.01 to $5.00
____ $5.01 to $7.00
____ $7.01 to $10.00
____ More than $10.00
14. I don't use some forms of available transportation because: (Check all that apply.)
____ It doesn't go where I need to go
____ I don't know what is available
____ I don't know how to use it
____ I don't feel that I have the mobility skills
____ I'm afraid because I've never done it before
____ It's too expensive
____ I do not feel safe
____ There are no sidewalks
____ There are intersections which I do not feel comfortable crossing
____ Other - Please specify.
15. I would use available transportation more often if: (Check all that apply.)
____ I knew more about it
____ I had help planning trips
____ I had better mobility skills
____ I felt safer
____ If there were sidewalks
____ If there were accessible pedestrian signals
____ Other - Please specify.
16. Please rate the following transportation systems (based on your experience in your community) from 1 to 5; 1 being excellent and 5 being very poor.
Local transit bus system,
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Commuter bus system
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Light rail, rapid rail or subway system
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Commuter train service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Commuter vanpool service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Carpool matching service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Local taxi company(ies)
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Door-to-door or curb-to-curb paratransit system for people with disabilities or seniors.
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Local organization with volunteer drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Inter-city train service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Friends and family
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Ferry or Water Taxi
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Service provider (Medicaid/Medicare Supported employment ride etc.)
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Other - Please specify.
Questions About Local Bus, Light-Rail and Rapid Rail Services in Your Community
The following questions only apply to local bus, light rail and/or rapid rail service in your community.
17. How do you get information about routes and/or schedules? (Check all that apply.)
____ I call and a customer service person tells me what I need to know
____ I request and receive schedules in an alternative format (Braille, large print, computer diskette) which is accessible to me.
____ I request and do not receive schedules in the format of my choice
____ I call but do not get useful information
____ I ask someone else to read the schedule
____ I get the information from the Internet.
____ I don't ride the bus, light rail or rapid rail
____ I don't know how to get this information
18. How do you know when you have arrived at a bus or rail stop? (Check all that apply.)
____ There is usually a shelter
____ There is usually a bench
____ There is a sign which is marked with Braille and/or raised letters/numbers.
____ I have to guess
19. How do you let the transit driver know you want to board the system? (Check all that apply.)
____ The vehicle stops for anyone waiting at a transit stop
____ The vehicle stops for anyone waiting near a transit stop
____ The vehicle stops for anyone with an obvious disability at a transit stop
____ The vehicle stops for anyone with an obvious disability near a transit stop
____ I have to wave the bus down
____ It is hit or miss
20. A. Do transit vehicles have automated announcements of major stops and transfer points? (Check only one.)
____ All vehicles have automated announcements.
____ Some vehicles have automated announcements.
____ No vehicles have automated announcements.
20. B. On the vehicles with automated announcements, are the announcements clear and easy to understand?
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
21. A. Do transit drivers or the vehicles themselves announce major bus stops and transfer points? (Check only one.)
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
B. Are announcements made by drivers clear and easy to understand? (Check only one.)
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
22. Do you ever miss your requested stop because the stop was not announced, announced unclearly or incorrectly?
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
23. A. Do transit drivers receive training on how to appropriately transport people with disabilities?
____ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know
23. B. If yes, are people with disabilities involved in Developing or providing this training?
____ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know
24. How would you rate the overall quality of your local bus , light rail or rapid rail system in the following areas: Use 1 for excellent, to 5 for very poor.
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Ease of finding transit stops and/or boarding areas
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
On-time performance
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Quality and cleanliness of the vehicle
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Comfort of the ride
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Safety of the vehicles and drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Courtesy and professionalism of the drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Courtesy and professionalism of telephone customer service staff
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Overall service quality
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Overall affordability of the service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Responsiveness of management to service complaints
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Questions About Paratransit Services in Your Community
The following questions only apply to the paratransit services in your community. 25. How do you become eligible for paratransit services? (Check only one.)
____ Application only
____ Application and interview with transit staff
____ Application and assessment by an appropriate professional
____ Other - Please describe.
26. How are trips for which you are eligible determined? (Check only one.)
____ I'm eligible for any trip I wish to take
____ I'm only eligible for standing order trips (from the same place, to the same place, on the same day or days of the week)
____ I'm only eligible for non-standing order trips
____ I'm only eligible for trips I do not take often
____ I don't know how this is decided.
27. How often are you able to reach your paratransit provider by phone within three minutes? (Check only one.)
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
28. How often are you able to get the trip you requested at the time you requested it? (Check only one.)
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
29. How often does your paratransit vehicle arrive within fifteen minutes of the time you expected it? (Check only one.)
____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____Seldom ____ Never
30. A. Do paratransit drivers receive training on how to appropriately transport people with disabilities? (Check only one.)
____ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know
30. B. If yes, are people with disabilities involved in developing and/or providing this training? (Check only one.)
____ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know
31. How would you rate the overall quality of your paratransit service in the following areas: Use 1 for excellent, to 5 for very poor.
Getting through on the phone
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Getting the trip on the day and time you want it
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Getting picked up on time
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Getting to your destination on time
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Quality and cleanliness of vehicles
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Comfort of the ride
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Safety of the vehicles and drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Safety of the vehicles and drivers, rating 4
Courtesy and professionalism of the drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Courtesy and professionalism of telephone customer service staff
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Overall service quality
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Overall affordability of the service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Responsiveness of management to service complaints
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
32. How is your paratransit service provided? Check only one.
____ It is operated by the transit system with transit system employees.
____ It is operated by a private contractor or contractors who work for the transit system.
____ It is operated by a local taxi company or companies working for the transit system.
____ It is operated by a taxi company or companies for the local community where I live.
____ It is operated by a local not-for-profit organization.
____ I don't know how it is operated.
33. What kind of vehicles does your paratransit system operate? Check all that apply.
____ Large minibuses
____ Large vans which accommodate wheelchairs and seated passengers
____ Large vans which do not accommodate wheelchairs
____ Small minivans with ramps or wheelchair lifts
____ Small minivans without ramps or lifts
____ Sedans Taxicabs
____ Other.- Please specify.
The following questions refer to the management of your transit and/or paratransit systems.
34. Does your transit or paratransit system employ people with disabilities in clerical or administrative functions? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
35. Does your transit or paratransit system employ people with disabilities in its management structure? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
36. Does your transit or paratransit system have an advisory board which includes people with disabilities? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
37. Does the Board of Directors or commission which oversees your transit and/or paratransit systems include at least one person with a disability? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
The following questions refer to local taxi services in your community.
38. A. Do taxicab drivers in your community receive training on providing service to people with disabilities? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
38. B. If yes, are people with disabilities involved with the development or delivery of this training? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
39. Which of the following types of vehicles does your local taxicab company(ies) provide? (Check all that apply.)
____ Sedans ____ Minivans ____ Vans or minivans with lifts or ramps
____.Other - Please describe.
40. Does your community provide subsidized taxicab services for seniors and/or people with disabilities? (Check only one.)
___ Yes ____ No ____ I don't know.
41. How did you become eligible for this program? (Check only one.)
____ I enrolled by completing an application.
____ I had to complete an application and obtain a certification of disability.
____ I am not eligible for this program.
____ I do not know how I became eligible for this program.
____ Other - Please describe.
42. What type of trips are you permitted to take on this program? (Check all that apply.)
____ I can take any trip I like.
____ Work trips
____ School or training trips
____ Medical trips
____ Shopping trips
____ Other - Please describe.
43. How would you rate the overall quality of your taxi service in the following areas: Use 1 for excellent, to 5 for very poor.
Getting through on the phone, rating 1, excellent
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Getting picked up on time
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Getting to your destination on time
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Quality and cleanliness of vehicles
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Comfort of the ride
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Safety of the vehicles and drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Courtesy and professionalism of the drivers
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Courtesy and professionalism of telephone customer service staff
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Overall service quality
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Overall affordability of the service
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
Responsiveness of management to service complaints
____ Rating 1 ____ Rating 2 ____ Rating 3 ____ Rating 4 ____ Rating 5
____ Not applicable
The following questions are for people who have non-driving dependents.
44. How many non-driving dependents or family members do you routinely transport at the same time? (Check only one.)
____ 1 ____ 2 ____ 3 or more
45. Which of the following transportation systems do you use when transporting your non-driving dependents? (Check all that apply.)
____ Local transit bus system (Travels throughout my local area.)
____ Commuter bus system (Travels between my area and a nearby city or town.)
____ Light rail, rapid rail or subway system
____ Commuter train service
____ Commuter vanpool service
____ Carpool matching service
____ Local taxi company(ies)
____ Door-to-door or curb-to-curb paratransit system for people with disabilities or seniors.
____ Local organization with volunteer drivers
____ Over the road bus (like Greyhound)
____ Inter-city train service (like Amtrak)
____ Friends and family
____ Ferry or Water Taxi
____ Service provider (Medicaid/Medicare Supported employment ride etc.).
____ Other -Please specify.
46. Where do you transport your non-driving dependents? (Check all that apply.)
____ Child care
____ Preschool or school
____ School-sponsored extra-curricular activities
____ Other recreational activities (includes shopping, movies, going to friends' houses, etc.)
____ Community service activities
____ Adult Day Care
____ Religious Activities
____ Medical Appointments
____ Other - Please describe.
47. How would you describe your experience at transporting non-driving dependents? (Check only one.)
____ It takes planning, but I do not routinely have difficulties.
____ It is sometimes difficult.
____ It is nearly impossible because of problems with arranging transportation.
____ I usually cannot get transportation worked out at all.
The following question refers to your personal involvement with transportation issues in your community.
48. How are you personally involved with transit services in your community? (Check all that apply.)
____ I have no involvement
____ I write letters about my concerns.
____ I write letters of support.
____ I file complaints.
____ I serve on committees.
____ Other - Please explain.
The following questions pertain to transportation-related training in your community.
49. What type of training have you had on using the transit system in your community? (Check all that apply).
____ O & M training from a licensed O & M instructor
____ I received training on my transit system from someone other than a licensed O & M instructor
____ I received training on my transit system from another individual who is blind or visually impaired
____ I have never received training on my transit system
____ Other - (Specify)
50. If you could receive training on the transit system in your community, who would you like to have provide it? (Check only one)
____ I would like training on the transit system from a licensed O & M instructor
____ I would like to receive training on my transit system from someone other than a licensed O & M instructor
____ I would prefer to receive training on the transit system from another individual who is blind or visually impaired.
____ Other (Specify)
General Information
51. Your gender (Check only one.)
____ Male ____ Female
52. Your age: (Check only one.)
____ Under 18 ____ 18-34 ____ 35-49
____ 50-64 ____ 65-79 ____ 80 or more
53. What is your personal annual income? (Check only one.)
____ Less than $9,999
____ $10,000 to $24,999
____ $25,000 to $34,999
____ $35,000 to $49,999
____ $50,000 or more
54. Describe your visual acuity. (Check only one.)
____ Visually impaired but not legally blind
____ Legally blind with relatively usable vision
____ Legally blind with limited travel vision
____ Legally blind with light perception only
____ Totally blind
55. Do you have other disabilities besides vision loss? (Check all that apply.)
____ Hearing impairment
____ Speech impairment
____ Physical impairment (do not need a wheelchair, cane or walker)
____ Physical impairment (need a wheelchair, cane or walker)
____ Learning disability
____ Cognitive impairment
____ Other - Please describe.
56. What mobility aids do you use when you travel? (check all that apply.)
____ White cane
____ Guide dog
____ Other service animal
____ Sighted guide
____ Other mobility device (wheelchair, cane, walker, support cane, etc.)
____ Low vision aids
____ I have a white cane but don't use it.
57. A. Are there people living in your household who are able to drive? (Check only one.)
____ Yes ____No
57. B. If yes, how would you describe your ability to get a ride from this person or persons? (Check only one.)
____ I do not ask for rides.
____ I can get rides any time I need them.
____ I can get rides during certain times of day.
____ I can get rides for certain purposes but not others.
____ Other - Please describe.
CONCLUSION
Well, newsletter fans. That's it. Have fun, and FILL OUT THAT SURVEY!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This newsletter has been brought to you by Alaska Independent Blind members and Board of Directors:
Lynne Koral, President
Sandy Sanderson, First Vice-President
Deborah Jenkins, Second Vice-President
Nugget Hiatt, Secretary
Fred Ryan, Treasurer
Jim Swartz, Board Member
Danny Von, Board Member
Richard Gardenhire, Board Member
CONTACT INFORMATION
Alaska Independent Blind
1561 Nelchina St., Unit C-1,
Anchorage, AK 99501-5577
Phone: 907-563-2525
Statewide: 1-800 478-9998
Fax: 907-276-0066E-mail: aiblink@ak.net
Web: http://www.acb.org/alaska/
Webmaster: pprice@indy.rr.com
Last Updated: April 22, 2003