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FHWA Highway Safety Programs

Lesson 17: Pedestrians With Disabilities

Objectives:

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the different types of disabilities that affect pedestrians.
  2. Explain how the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) influences the design of pedestrian facilities.

Pre-Instruction:

Components

Activities

Motivation

Have the students describe what information they found on their visit to the home page of the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

Use the activity provided in the Student's Guide.

Objectives

Present and explain the two lesson goals listed above (V-17-1).

Information Presentation:

Components

Activities

Information Sequence

Outline the presentation of the lecture (V-17-2).

Information

Discuss the different ways that an individual can be disabled (V-17-3).

Explain how the ADA influences the design of pedestrian facilities (V-17-4).

Example(s)

Show examples (e.g., slides, videotape) of the different design practices related to ADA compliance that are cited in the text.

Student Participation:

Components

Activities

Practice

Have the class share their experiences as disabled pedestrians (the pre-instruction motivational activity). Focus on what design changes they would make in the local area to better accommodate people with disabilities.

Feedback

Provide comment and feedback to the class as appropriate.

Follow-Up:

Components

Activities

Enrichment

Assign reading for Lesson 18.

Have the students take a bicycle ride on a shared roadway and note what problems they encounter on their trips.

Review

Provide a summary of Lesson 17 (V-17-5).

Exercise

Ask the students to complete the exercise at the end of Lesson 17 in their workbooks. The exercise is reprinted below for your convenience.

17.4 Exercise

To help you realize how challenging visual and mobility impairments can be, you will get a chance to travel in a wheelchair, and then as a blindfolded pedestrian.

For safety, the following rules apply to this activity:

  • Always have your protector (partner) with you.
  • Only travel in the area designated for this activity.
  • Always lean backwards when going down a ramp (wheelchair).
  • Always lean forward when going up a ramp (wheelchair).
  • The protector should be in front of the wheelchair when going downhill, and behind the wheelchair when going uphill.
  • Do not hold onto the blind person or push the wheelchair.

Lesson Objectives:

  • Describe disabilities that affect pedestrians
  • Explain how ADA influences the design of pedestrian facilities

Lesson Outline:

  • Ways that an individual can be disabled
  • ADA design of pedestrian facilities

Types of Disabilities:

  • Mobility impairments
  • Sensory deficiencies
  • Cognitive impairments

ADA Design Issues:

  • Sidewalks
  • Ramps
  • Street furniture
  • Pushbuttons
  • Curb cuts/wheelchair ramps

Lesson Summary:

  • Pedestrians can have many different types of disabilities
  • Compliance with ADA standards will assist disabled pedestrians to safely navigate the system