Flashing lights no good for me

In the normal scheme of things and in a mainstream world, flashing lights are used to signify certain situations and circumstances.  For example, they are used to tell pedestrians when they can cross streets, they are used to indicate when timers and clocks on appliances need to be set or reset, and as a general rule they are used to indicate when a certain action needs to be taken.  All well and good but for those of us who are unable to see flashing lights, we need to find ways to compensate. 

 

Here are a few things that I do in order to compensate.  Now that I am unable to see these wondrous flashing indicators, I use certain techniques.  In the case of knowing when to cross streets, I use the tried and proven technique of listening for parallel traffic.  Here's how this works.  As I approach the corner, I perk up my ears and start listening for the direction in which traffic is traveling and I am more concerned about the parallel traffic. 

 

You see, the flow of parallel traffic is what I use to tell me when/if I should be crossing a street.  If I hear the parallel traffic moving then I know that it is safe for me to move but wait a minute!  There is something else to think about but let me finish off the thought on the flow of traffic.  If the traffic in front of me is moving then I know that I need to wait.  Let me paint the picture more clearly.

 

As I approach a street corner, I start listening for the flow of parallel traffic and if it is already moving as I reach the corner then I stand and wait for it to stop.  When it starts to move again then I am safe to cross.  In the case of traffic in front of me, the process is similar.  If it is flowing as I reach the corner I stop and wait and when it stops moving then I cross.  If it is quiet as I reach the corner, then I stop and wait for it to start again then stop again.  Clear as mud?  I hope so.

 

In the case of dealing with flashing lights on appliances, I need to use a different technique and it all boils down to being able to tell if electricity has gone and returned.  Nothing tried and proven here but just common sense.  If you would like to learn more about how blind persons deal with flashing lights then please visit www.nfb.org or www.rnib.org.  I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and help educate the rest of the world about how blind persons deal with flashing lights.