National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

Remote Infrared Signage Developmen to Address Current and Emerging Access Problems for Blind Individuals

Part II

Smith-Kettlewell Research on the Use of Talking Signs®
for Use by People with Developmental Disabilities


The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center 2318 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA. 94115
June, 1998

ABSTRACT

In collaboration with The Arc (Association of Retarded Citizens) of San Francisco, a human factors evaluation, involving 15 developmentally delayed clients, was performed to determine the effectiveness of Talking Signs' for this group. Discussions with our colleagues at The Arc indicated that many of their clients might be able to travel more independently, with better orientation, greater safety, and increased confidence in complex environments, with the assistance that Talking Signs could provide.
These discussions also allowed us to explore the special adaptations to the technology (location and messaging) appropriate to the needs of this population and provided the opportunity for us to learn the training requirements specific to this population. From this experience, a new section will be written to supplement training procedures already provided for blind individuals in "Talking Signs' System: Guide for Trainers" (Bentzen, Myers, and Crandall, 1995).
Develpmentally delayed people who are not able to read print signs were able to auditorily identify destinations through Talking Signs messages. The repeating messages also gave people who are cognitively impaired the opportunity to study the message for relevant information. One characteristic of the environment which works against the independent travel of people who are developmentally disabled is the over abundance of information. Therefore, it is important to have unambiguous travel information available at appropriate places along the path of travel. We call this strategy "just-in-time information." In the broadest sense. Talking Signs comprise a menu of choices and reminders for the cognitively impaired traveler — signs confront them with the options available at any given point in their travels and remind them where next to go. Talking Signs are directional, so that the traveler can "look around." Once the appropriate destination is recognized, the traveler can move in that direction.
The Talking Signs system is an excellent aid to travel for persons with developmental disabilities. It can enable them to independently confirm the location and identity of key features in a transit station such as the correct faregate, the correct side of a platform, or the correct exit from a platform or station to a street or to a connecting bus or train. The best use of the Talking Signs technology for persons with developmental disabilities are expected to be labeling transit facilities, transit vehicles identification, and next stop messages.
Training in the use of Talking Signs should be integrated with a regular program of travel training for persons with developmental disabilities.

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