From our visits to the school, the MRT, and buses, we, in hope of making it more convenient for the visually impaired, have some suggestions and introductions on audible traffic lights, tactile pavings, and the Braille system.

 

1.Wu Xing Primary School:

There are two types of assisting facilities in our school: the tactile pavings on the ground floor hallway and the Braille instructions by elevator buttons.

Suggestion:

Yen-Ching: The tactile pavings only makes access to the restroom. Some pavings are long and lead to nowhere. The pavings in school probably function as anti-slippery tiles. If there are blind friends visiting, the most practical way to make them safely reach places they want to visit is to have someone lead them. Only elevators at school have Braille notices. There should be some placed by frequently visited places, such as the restroom.

 

Wen-Hung: Tactile pavings should be extended to the stairs, rather than merely paved to the entrance of stairs.

 

 

 

 

2.Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation:

There are tactile pavings, elevators with Braille buttons, and help areas on the platforms. The visually impaired be provided with help after ringing help button in the area.

 

Suggestions:

Pei-Yu: More tactile pavings should be installed. Along with Braille instructions, the visually impaired will have access to more areas.

 

Wen-Hung: There should be music playing at help areas in order to show the visually impaired where the areas are.

 

 

3.Buses:

Among all the buses we have taken, Da Nan Bus 266 is the most friendly. The bus not only announces its arrival at stop, its low-floor design makes it easier for the visually impaired and guide dogs to get on. There are also guide dog friendly signs. On the door, the handrail by driver’s cockpit, seat handles, and bus alerts, there are Braille signs. However, when we asked the driver about the signs, he had no idea what these Braille words meant.

 

Suggestions:

Yen-Ching: I think there should be more Rehabilitation buses running for the sake of the disabled.

 

Hsin-Tung: The volume of bus broadcasting system should be louder for the visually impaired.

 

Ming-Han: There should be priority seats for the blind.

 

 

 

 

4.Audible traffic lights:

There are Braille buttons on audible traffic lights for the visually impaired to trigger.

 

Suggestions:

Yen-Ching: I think there should be audible traffic lights nationwide for the visually impaired to use.

 

Ming-Han: The audible traffic lights should be more articulate.

 

 

 

 

 

5.Tactile pavings:

Tactile pavings we saw at MRT Panchiao Station.

 

Suggestions:

Hsin-Tung: Although some sidewalks have installed tactile pavings, some of them aren’t long enough, and they end abruptly. Those pavings should be extended, otherwise the blind will get lost.

 

Ming-Han: Tactile pavings show be installed by the roadside to decrease chances for the blind to be hit.

 

 

 

6.Braille signs:

We usually find Braille signs on the elevators of public buildings. We once even found a Braille sign in the underground corridor. We also visited a restaurant which provides Braille menu. The restaurant is in Taipei Medical University Hospital.

 

Suggestions::

Tzu-Hsuan: The government should reward restaurants that have Braille menus. Doing so, more restaurants will be willing to have Braille menus.

 

Pei-Yu: If we start teaching Braille system as a hobby to children, the Braille system will be known by everyone, just like the case for sign language songs.

 

Below is the video of Ming-Han, as a blind person, ordering food with Braille menu