Campus “Word Maps”

Orientation Information for Blind/Visually Impaired: A Non-

Technical Application

Jim Kessler

Problem

• Printed maps• On-line maps

Orientation

Q. 1 Where are you?

Q. 2 Where did you come from and where do you go from here?

Q. 3 What do you need to know to get there?

Word Maps

Essential InformationCardinal Directions

North

West East

South

Fundamental Information

• Building • Entrances • Path(s) of travel • Door(s) • Signage• Floor covering • Elevator and Stairs• Restrooms (including service animal relief area)

Building(Name and Function)

• Departments/Activities (start with 1st floor then up then ground (basement)

• What is adjacent on each side of the building? Relationship

• Building(s), roads, open area (playing field, parking lot, ‘quad’

Dawson Hall(Administration)

• First floor: reception, Academic Affairs (Provost and Dean of Arts and Science), Business and Administration,

• Second Floor: University President, University Counsel

• Dawson faces Rutledge Drive, with Vance Hall to the east and University Center on the west. Behind Dawson is the Visitor’s parking lot.

Entrances (Primary and Secondary)

• Path of travel from: • Main sidewalk, • Parking lot

• Grade level, Steps (handrail) /Ramps• Porch, covered (or not) entrance• Enters where in the building?

Path of Travel

•Main sidewalk, Parking lot (drive way)•Grade level, Steps (handrail) /Ramps•Porch or covered entrance•Enters where in the building

Doors

Type •Hinged (single or double door entrance) •Push/pull•Sliding (automatic)•Sets – vestibule

Signage

• All rooms (entrances) are supposed to have a braille label approximately 50 inched on the wall face next to the door on the same side as the door level (2010 ADA Standards Section 703). With the exception of Men and Women restroom and emergency exits (stairs) a minimum the room number is required,

but additional information describing function, e.g. 107 Dean of Students is appreciated.

Floor covering – for all areas is the room or path of travel

•Carpet•Linoleum•Terrazzo •Tile•Concrete

Elevator(s) andStairs

Elevators - (audible signals?) number of cars – call button – inside panel design

StairsLocated where in the hallway?

– Open or closed stairwell?– Switchback or perimeter?

Restrooms

Accessible?

Fixtures – toilet paper, flush mechanism, sink operation, soap dispenser, paper towels (manual/motion activated), trash can

Service animal ‘relief’ area Trashcans

Residence Hall• Entrances – Key access (call box – operation)• Lobby: General layout (directions)• Office/main desk• Furniture• Bulletin Boards• Mailboxes (access – key/combination) proper I.D.

(braille)• Public Restrooms• Vending?• Meeting/Common Rooms• Elevators

Hallways

• Layout - (directional relationship)• Internal/External (balcony entrance)• Straight line• Wings • Right Angles• Floor covering (consistent/change)• Secondary/Emergency Stairs

Room Types

Shared (common bathroom for floor)• Suites (2-4 room) (shared bath)• Apartments (multiple/shared baths)

• Numbering sequence • Even – left, odd right – down and back• Braille• Objects on hallway walls• Personalized ‘nameplates’• Fire Extinguisher (next to)• Fire Alarm

Room• Door Hardware – handle, ‘key’ access• Floor covering • Furniture • Desk, dresser, bed, bookshelves• Closet – back of door (hooks), shelf• Electrical outlets (where)• Thermostat (if available – how does it work)• Windows (operations, curtains/blinds)

Bathroom

En suite•Sinks (#) water control•Toilet – flush mechanism, toilet paper•Shower – water/shower control/curtain•Electrical outlets

Common

• Where is it in the hallway – controlled access?• Sink (#) water controls• Towel dispenser (if available) trash disposal• Toilets (#) and accessible unit, flush

mechanism, toilet paper• Showers (#) water control• Electrical outlets

Laundry Facilities(What Floor?)

• Washers (front/top loaded) Controls (dials/push-button)• Dryers Controls (dials/push-button)• Payment method Coin/card swipe Control box• Sinks Water control• Folding Table/hooks• Vending for soap/dryer sheets? Payment method

Administrative/Classroom• Hallway ‘design’ and room number sequencing• Offices - • (Detail word map of offices is necessary when a student or

employee of the University works for the Department and should be completed before employment starts) Secondary project.

• Water fountains• Restrooms – note if accessible – describe – stalls/urinals (flush

controls), sinks (controls), towels, trash• Stairs• Elevators • Workroom(s)• Snack Room• Furniture• Trash/Recycle Bins

Clasrooms and Lecture Halls• Number of doors • Relationship of door to the room (instructional area)• Front, back, side• Level, terraced• If multiple level – from which floor• Number of aisles• Type of seating • Moveable or fixed• Chairs with tablets• Chairs and tables• Available power outlets

Laboratories

Workstations– Stools – standing– Services – gas, water, air (labeled)– Sinks– Emergency shower– Safe place for service animal

Gymnasiums – Fitness Centers• Main and/or Equipment Desk Towels, (and return) baskets, equipment• Locker rooms Lockers, locks (combination, key)• Restrooms • Water fountains Showers (common or stalls)

- Benched - Water controls

Work Out Facilities• Work out rooms Group (e.g. Yoga, Pilates) • Floor covering• Equipment Stationary Cardio-vascular Resistance Weights• Indoor track (entrance/exit)• Indoor/outdoor pools (entrance/exit) Depths in relationship to entrance/exit Ladders Lifeguard stations

University Center/Student Unions• Main desk• Administrative Offices• Mailboxes/Lockers (access – key/combination) proper I.D. (braille)• Organizational Offices• Common/Gathering/Hangout areas• Meeting rooms• Restrooms (accessible)• Restrooms • Elevators• Stairs• Ticket Office• Post Office

Food ServiceCafeterias/Coffee and Snack Bars

• Entrance• Cashiers• Food stations (salads, grille, entrees, specialties,

drinks, condiments) • Flatware• Seating – tables, booths (salt/pepper/napkins on

tables)• Dish return• Restrooms• Water fountains

Student Stores(Aisle Design)

• Cashiers• Accessible Academic materials • Textbooks, coursepaks• Computers• Clothing• Spirit items• Restrooms• Elevators/escalators/stairs• Water fountains

Performing Arts/Auditoriums

• Lobby• Ticket Window (indoors/outdoors)• Casual seating area• Cloakroom• Restrooms (each floor)• Water Fountains • Ground, mezzanine, balcony• Elevators/Stairs

Performance Area

• Entrances (number) relationship to lobby/balcony

• Number of aisles• Terrace/Sloped

Back Stage information may be necessary if the student is involved in dramatic productions.

Landmarks

Anything that has an auditory, aromatic, textural, kinesthetic, thermal or sensational impact that provides a reference to place.

Auditory

Sounds – airplanes, trains, automobiles, air handling units, fountains, escalators, buildings, paths between buildings, overhands (canopies), objects (trees/posts…), hallways, wide-open spaces…

Aromatic

cafeteria/coffee shops, swimming pools, mildew, trash containers (dumpsters)laboratories, gyms

Textural

carpet, bricks, asphalt, service covers, grass, dimpled curb cuts…

Kinesthetic

ups/downs – steps, sidewalk undulations, uphill/downhill, curbs (driveways), curb cuts…

Thermal

Air condition, hallways, foliage

Orientation

Q. 1 Where are you?

Q. 2 Where did you come from and where do you go from here?

Q. 3 What do you need to know to get there?

Routes

• Sidewalks Relation to streets and building Parallel Toward or away Cross driveways Intersect other sidewalks Bordered – bushes, walls

Streets*

• One way• Two way (2, 4 lanes) Boulevard – island/median down middle

*Include direction of traffic – north/south/east/west

Cross Streets* Intersections – 4 way – two streets crossing 2 or 4 lanes each T – intersect (similar to driveways)

Rotary/Round-abouts – worst possible scenario

*Include direction of traffic – north/south/east/west

Intersection Control

• Stop signs 4 way, 3 way (T-Intersection), 2 way

• Traffic Lights (with or without auditory signals)

• Flashing lights

Questions