Visually-impaired Participants Research Articles

Delineator for Separated Bicycle Lanes at Sidewalk Level

The City and County of San Francisco sponsored research to identify a delineator for separated bicycle lanes at sidewalk level that is at least as detectable as truncated-dome detectable warning surface (DWS) by pedestrians with visual impairments, and that is not a barrier to pedestrians with mobility impairments. Tested as potential delineators were a 12-in. wide continuous raised trapezoid (0.75 in. high), and 12- and 24-in. wide installations of relatively wide flat-top bars (FTBs) and of a “corduroy” surface of narrower bars spaced more closely together (both 0.2 in. high). Thirty-one visually-impaired participants detected all five surfaces in addition to DWS, a total of six times each, from 90° and 25° approaches, with mean detection accuracies better than 90% for all surfaces (no significant differences). The long white cane intruded into the cycle track significantly less frequently with 24-in. wide surfaces. In a counterbalanced manner, participants also briefly stepped onto each surface eight times, each time identifying it as “domes,”“bars,” or “trapezoid.” They identified the trapezoid significantly better (mean rate of correct identification = 98.8%) than all other surfaces. A majority of participants with vision disabilities preferred the trapezoid. Thirty participants with a variety of mobility impairments, using a variety of aids, crossed each surface four times with little significant difference from the DWS in effort, instability, and discomfort or pain. No surface was found to be a barrier to crossing. The trapezoidal surface was recommended as the delineator, although the 24-in. FTBs also performed very well.

Ubiquitous Accessibility for People with Visual Impairments: Are We There Yet?

Ubiquitous access is an increasingly common vision of computing, wherein users can interact with any computing device or service from anywhere, at any time. In the era of personal computing, users with visual impairments required special-purpose, assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to interact with computers. This paper investigates whether technologies like screen readers have kept pace with, or have created a barrier to, the trend toward ubiquitous access, with a specific focus on desktop computing as this is still the primary way computers are used in education and employment. Towards that, the paper presents a user study with 21 visually-impaired participants, specifically involving the switching of screen readers within and across different computing platforms, and the use of screen readers in remote access scenarios. Among the findings, the study shows that, even for remote desktop access-an early forerunner of true ubiquitous access-screen readers are too limited, if not unusable. The study also identifies several accessibility needs, such as uniformity of navigational experience across devices, and recommends potential solutions. In summary, assistive technologies have not made the jump into the era of ubiquitous access, and multiple, inconsistent screen readers create new practical problems for users with visual impairments.

Role of Sexual Risk Behaviors and Sexual Attitude in Perceived HIV Vulnerability Among Youths with Disabilities in Two Nigerian Cities

The role of sexual attitude and sexual risk-behavior in the perception of HIV-vulnerability and differences among youths with disability and able-bodied youths was investigated. The cross-sectional survey included purposively selected youths with visual, hearing and physical impairments (n = 181) and able-bodied youths (n = 181 as comparison group) with mean age of 23.75 years in public institutions. Data was gathered with the use of a 44-item questionnaire which included a Braille version. Analysis included descriptive, cross-tabulation, and 2X2 ANOVA. Sexual risk behavior is related and has influence on perceived HIV-vulnerability in both groups, while sexual attitude did not. Youths with disability who have liberal sexual attitude and high score in sexual risk-behavior reported the highest perceived HIV-vulnerability. Visually-impaired participants perceived a higher level of HIV-vulnerability compared to the hearing and physically impaired. Health care planners should consider sexual risk behavior in improving perceived HIV-vulnerability in both impaired and able-bodied populations.