“So, how would you navigate your way round a large public space in a shopping centre? What technology would help you do that?”
Those were two of the questions I was asked when Fiji and I spoke at an architectural company who specialize ? in designing shopping centres, school and university campuses and large apartment buildings. It was one of those sessions where I really got to test my own knowledge and skills in trying to offer the architects suggestions on how to make their designs more friendly to blind and visually impaired people, both those of us who work with a guide dog and those who prefer using a white mobility cane.
More importantly, it got me thinking about how much I’ve learned over the past two years – if someone had started asking me things like that when I first sat down to write A Different Way of Seeing, or when I first started working with Fiji I probably would have been lost for words… or at least lost for ideas to put into words. Yet, when I was standing in front of the team of architects I found myself not only able to answer the questions but to offer a few thoughts on emerging technologies that may really help architects to design large public spaces that are accessible to those of us without sight.
Of course, I had the added advantage that Fiji was being her usual beautiful and talented self, so I could probably have got away with it even if I hadn’t been able to answer the questions posed by the architects… but I could, so her being beautiful and talented was merely an added bonus!
I really enjoy doing this kind of work, and Fiji loves doing any kind of work, so it was a wonderfully stimulating day for us both.
Great awareness Lois created by you & Fiji. I met with an architect last week on disability issues and realised their training is minimal about including adaptations at design stage , as is mine in this specalist field . So thanks for being available for this level of education , have forwarded to him and will be calling on you should I get a response.
Great awareness Lois created by you & Fiji. I met with an architect last week on disability issues and realised their training is minimal about including adaptations at design stage , as is mine in this specalist field . So thanks for being available for this level of education , have forwarded to him and will be calling on you should I get a response.
Thank you, Karen – I’d be more than happy to assist if your client responds. Looking forward to working with you on this project!