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June 1, 2016 APSC Keeping It Moving: accessible and safe streets for Westchester, Yonkers Riverfront Library

Keeping It Moving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Annie Chiappetta, President, Westchester Council of the blind (WCBNY) 914-393-6605 president@wcbny.org

Becky Davidson, Vice President,  WCBNY 914-243-2210  vicepresident@wcbny.org

Download the Flyer here!

Local Blindness Awareness Group brings Street Crossing Challenge to Yonkers

1 June {Yonkers, N.Y.}- The Accessible Pedestrian Signal Coalition of Westchester is hosting its second annual street crossing event on June 1, to show support for Yonkers and its recognition of making streets safer and more accessible to people with disabilities, the APSC of Westchester will be handing out information inside the Riverfront library located at 1 Larkin Plaza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.       A traffic systems equipment representative will also be present for demonstrations.

Additionally, an outdoor activity, called “The Blindfold Challenge”, will seek volunteers who are sighted to cross a street nearby using a white cane while also being accompanied by a certified orientation and mobility instructor for the blind. The purpose is to let people feel what it is like to navigate   a street crossing without the benefit of vision. Moreover,   this helps the community understand how important installing APS signals are for people with disabilities to travel safely and independently in their neighborhood.

Last year, the event was held in front of the County Office building in White Plains and was a media success.

 

The coalition was formed in 2014 and includes members from State, County, and local  Departments of Transportation, blindness organizations, Independent Living Centers, and municipalities working on increasing  installations of APS .

According to Westchester Council of the Blind President, Annie Chiappetta, “APS  are devices that use audible sounds to assist blind and deaf blind individuals to locate safe crossings at intersections.  Audible Locator beacons  help target poles with APS buttons and cross walks. Tactile  strips identify curbs and ramps to help cross safely.”

To find out more about APS: go to westchestersafestreets.org/

 

To find out more about the Westchester Council of the blind, go to:

www.wcbny.org/

Save the Date!
Keeping It Moving
June 1, 2016 at the Yonkers Riverfront Library
Take the blindfold challenge, talk to APS subject matter experts, and more
For more information, contact
President@wcbny.org or call 914-393-6605

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

OF NEW YORK, INC.

AN AFFILIATE OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, WASHINGTON, D.C.

A SELF-HELP ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO

IMPROVING THE LIFESTYLE AND INDEPENDENCE

OF THE BLIND

Whereas, Blindness is considered to be a disability by its limiting of at least one major life function, mainly vision and,

Whereas, People who are blind require specialized services unique to the needs of the disability and,

Whereas, The New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) has provided these specialized and specific services to blind individuals and their families from birth to death through a unique public/private partnership successfully since 1913 and,

Whereas, The existing laws covering access for people with disabilities, e.g. the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, do not mandate full and equal access for people with sensory loss and, Whereas, The NYSCB meets or exceeds the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) specified standards and indicators year after year using the current model of providing services and,

Whereas, the New York State Office of the Aging (NYSOFA) is conducting a feasibility study on the creation of an Office of Community Living and, Whereas, The New York State Office of the Aging is not offering any information on what an Office of Community Living might look like or the scope of services that might be available from such an office and,

Whereas, The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) has retained its autonomy throughout the feasibility study and for any creation of an Office of Community Living;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved by the American Council of the Blind of New York, Inc., in convention assembled on this the 30th day of October, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, New York, that the New York State Commission for the Blind retain its position within the Office of Children and Family Services as the New York State Commission for the Blind and,

Be It Further Resolved that the NYSCB should continue to provide its high quality specialized services via its public/private partnerships to individuals from birth to death who are blind throughout the state of New York and,

Be It Further Resolved that the NYSCB should be provided autonomy from being a part of or participating in the creation or existence of any office providing overarching services not specifically for people who are blind and,

Be It Further Resolved that a copy of this resolution shall be provided to the Director of NYSOFA, the members of the steering committee conducting the feasibility study, the Assembly Task Force for People with Disabilities, the Associate Commissioner of the NYSCB, the Executive Board to the NYSCB, the New York Vision Rehabilitation Association, the New York State Rehabilitation Council to NYSCB, the Governor, Assembly and Senate.

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