United States Access Board Features Cool Sidewalk Design Videos

The United Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. That may sound a bit dry, but here's the interesting bit I discovered today: Their website has some fantastic videos about accessible sidewalks! If you're not a person whose disability makes sidewalk design an issue, you've probably never spent much time wondering whether or not your hometown's sidewalks and crosswalks are accessible enough. Watch these videos, and I guarantee you'll be staring at every curb you run across.

The series includes videos on design issues for pedestrians who use wheelchairs, design issues for pedestrians with ambulatory impairments, design issues for pedestrians with low vision, and design issues for pedestrians who are blind. Each video features people with the disabilities the video focuses on, investigating common problems with sidewalk and crosswalk design which affect them. The videos are open captioned, and include running descriptive audio commentary.

 If your computer can play streaming video, you can watch every video online, but they're also available free on DVD. To order a copy, send a request for the “Accessible Sidewalks DVD” with your mailing address to pubs@access-board.gov or call the Board at (202) 272-0011 (v) or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).

The United Access Board sidewalk videos are hands down the coolest thing I've seen all day, because they call attention to a criticial issue that most people spend no time at all thinking about. A well designed sidewalk can empower people with disabilities to participate fully in their community, while a poorly designed sidewalk or crosswalk can mean daily access challenges.