Sound Transit is in need of specialized support to improve and promote effective resources in human wayfinding and navigation. Areas of need are but are not limited to:
Tactile Maps: Providing tactile spatial information accessible to people who are blind.
Written descriptions of stations and routes: information needed by people who are blind to allow independent mobility through Sound Transit stations.
Familiarization Events: A pre-opening event held at a Sound Transit public facility to provide people with disabilities with an opportunity to explore the accessibility features implemented in the design of the facility so that they can effectively use these features.
Design improvements to enhance accessibility: suggestions made during planning meetings or during site walks of facilities under construction to improve their use by people who are blind or have low vision.
PSU students enrolled in the Orientation and Mobility program will have exposure to real-world applications of orientation and mobility concepts as they apply to independent travel in public transit.
PSU students will have the opportunity to practice and build skills for interacting with public transit staff and people who are blind, or have low vision, or are Deafblind.
PSU students will have the opportunity to build skills around creating tactile maps, writing travel instructions, pilot testing products, participating in public events, and providing constructive feedback to transit staff on improving accessibility for passengers who are blind.
Sound Transit will gain needed expertise for improving the transit experience for passengers who are blind or who have low vision.
Sound Transit will have an effective process for developing useful tactile maps and written travel instructions that can be vetted with the public and become standard tools to be used by the agency going forward.
Sound Transit will have the use of volunteers to staff public events in which specific guidance and instructions are needed to assist passengers who are blind.
Sound Transit Scholars will be engaged in environmental assessment of stations, creating tactile maps of stations, and soliciting feedback on those tactile maps.
Scholars will create 3-D printed floorplans of areas within stations to support traveler navigation within select stations.
Survey/interview on accessibility will be shared to solicit feedback from travellers with visual impairments or DeafBlindness.
Sound Transit & PSU will be engaged in a partnership with San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind: MADLAB in creating tactile map symbology kits for remote testing with Visually Impaired, Low Vision, Blind, & Deafblind participants.
Sound Transit Scholars & Partners will be engaged in an assessment of tactile map symbology and soliciting feedback from participants on those tactile map symbols.
Tactile map symbology testing feedback will inform decision-making regarding Sound Transit and Scholar's tactile map designs.