Let's Get Physical

After all of our classes, I find that physical environment is one that I find easiest to observe, and focus on.  I’ve also found it difficult to reflect on some of these concepts before understanding more about the deaf experience, which is so expansive; it’s really taking me awhile.  In the past couple of weeks, I’ve started thinking about things that Lindsay might need in a physical environment.  Since Lindsay has a very weak sense of hearing, her sight and other senses are heightened.  Something that Lindsay would be looking for, and is likely pretty dependent on, is lots of visual aids, especially signs and maps of buildings and campus.  Way-finding can be difficult enough in a new environment, but by not being able to communicate readily with other students and faculty in order to ask for directions, it would be essential to Lindsay that she is able to find where she needs to go in a self-sufficient manner.  (Regardless, even hearing students would greatly benefit from well-placed signs helping them find their way around.)

In order for Lindsay to feel satisfied on a campus, it is crucial that she feels included and safe in her environment.  In terms of safety, any safety devices (such as tornado warnings and fire alarms), should be accompanied by visual alerts, such as flashing lights, so that she can be aware of the warnings as well as be prepared for what will likely be the rush and commotion of people that she might not otherwise be prepared for.  It makes me think about the systems that we have in the residence halls here.  We are very dependent on using our public announcement system to get last minute advertisement and information to residents.  Unless we have plenty of signs up ahead of time, Lindsay could completely miss really important information.  We try to avoid this by putting up lots of posters in advance, however this is not always possible.  Luckily, for fire and tornado alarms, we offer bed shakers that vibrate the bed violently when the alarm goes off.  According to Disability Service’s Emergency Evacuation pamphlet, “Most buildings on campus are not yet equipped with visual alarms. Some persons with hearing impairments may not perceive audio emergency alarms and will need to be alerted to the situation by gestures or by turning the light switch off and on. Emergency instructions can be given by verbalizing, mouthing, or by a short, explicit note. Example: ‘Fire alarm -- go out south doors—now!’  It is appropriate to offer assistance to a hearing impaired person as you leave the building.”  It is interesting that they readily accept that there are no visual alarms  in most of our buildings, but it is not well advertised that others are supposed to assist these hard of hearing students in that situation.