1. Designing Visually Accessible Cities and Communities OPPI Conference
Oct 06, 2015
Devin Causley MCIP RPP

2. Why me?

3. Outline Icebreaker – Elements of a visual city?
Types of visual limitations that can inhibit accessibility
Understand the legislative requirements for planners to consider accessibility in planning and design
Identify ways to improve community design for accessibility
Questions?

4. Other Ideas?

5. Low vision and blindness.

6. Vision
There are approx 1.1 million people in Canada living with blindness or partial sight
Degree of vision loss can impact economic opportunities and social interaction
70% of blind or visually impaired people are unemployed
Portion of population with vision loss is growing
Most live normal, functional lives

7. Causes of Vision Loss
Vision loss can be caused by eye problems that are present from birth, by conditions that appear later in life, or by infections or environmental factors.
Eye Connect Aging Eyes
AMD Astigmatism
Cataracts Charles Bonnet syndrome
Diabetic Eye Disease Diabetic Macular Edema
Dry Eye Far-Sightedness
Floaters & Flashing Lights Glaucoma
Lazy Eye (Amblyopia) Near-Sightedness
Pink Eye Retinal Detachment
Retinal Pigmentosa Retinal Vein Occlusion

12. Supporting Agencies Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Community support services for blind and low vision
National advocacy
Canadian Council for the Blind
National advocacy with government and consumer organizations
Support agency

13. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Introduced in 2005
Make Ontario accessible by 2025.
Ontario now has mandatory accessibility standards in 5 areas of daily life:
Customer service
Employment
Information and communications
Transportation
Design of public space
Full details -

14. AODA - Design of Public Space
Requires an accessibility plan and advisory committee (10,000 pop plus)
Applies to newly constructed spaces contracted after 2012
Implicated
Exterior paths of travel (sidewalks)
Trails
Public eating and play spaces
Parking spaces
Appropriate maintenance for accessibility

15. Designing for Visual Accessibility.

16. Braille
Textured language consisting of dots used by the blind and people with low vision
Used to communicate street names, describe locations and signals

17. Street Signage, Maps and Directions
Use signs, maps and directions in combination
Make signs clear and easy to read
Frequent and consistent locations
Follow standard signage conventions
Distinct signs for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians

18. Street / Information Signs
Large print
High contrasting colours
Differentiate with colour
Close to eye level
Audible or interactive
Read Me
Read Me
Read Me

19. Sign Examples

20. Navigation Maps Help pedestrians find their way around.
Large and non-cluttered
Provide key symbols
Reference to points of interest
Frequent locations
Easy to identify – consistent colour, shape, size

21. Sidewalk Texturing and Colouring
Use changes in texture to communicate changes in grade, stairs or intersections.
Can be felt by feet or canes
Apply colours to the ground to indicate zones or pathways.
Sidewalks are a canvas, use them for messages.
Be creative!

22. Textures

23. Colours

24. Messages

25. Audible Signals and Messages
Use sounds or narration to communicate key points or warnings
Intersection crossing signals (beeps)
Adequate timing
Countdowns
Consistent location
Pedestrian priority

26. Intersections

27. Narration

28. Audible Warnings

29. Audio Guides

30. Safe Zones Combine these elements to form a sense of security
Add generous space for pedestrians – room for mobility
Separation from vehicles and cyclists
Dog friendly

31. Canadian Climate Accessible zones Accessible corridors
Priority snow clearance and sidewalk treatment
Social connectivity and services

32. The Role of Planners

33. Wayfinding
Wayfinding enables people to orient themselves and navigate from place to place with ease.  
Wayfinding is more than signs.
Working together with other elements of the public realm such as street furniture and public art, it includes names, landmarks, conventions, maps and new media.  It contributes to making a city more "legible" for residents, commuters, and tourists alike. (City of Toronto)

34. Connecting People to Places
What is nearby that might be of interest?
Shops, services, tourism
What is coming up next along their path?
Accessibility, tourism, economic development share complementary objectives.

35. Complete Streets
Adopt urban design guidelines, setbacks and neighbourhood designs embracing accessibility.
Encourage the development of new standards scaled to pedestrians

36. Barrier Free Design Universal Design - Ronald L. Mace, Architect
Designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life.
Designing for the Disabled - Selwyn Goldsmith
Inventor of the dropped curb design
Seven Principles
Equitable use
Flexibility in use
Simple and intuitive
Perceptible information
Tolerance for error
Low physical effort
Size and space for approach and use

37. Engage
Engage urban designers, architects and engineers to integrate accessibility.
Engage blind, low vision and people with disabilities to develop and test designs

38. Questions? Devin Causley MCIP RPP P: 613-255-6120E: