Transit Maps: blindness

Photo: Homespun Tactile MBTA Map for Visually Impaired Users

April 28, 2016

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Unofficial Maps

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blindness, Boston, Braille, crafts, craftwork, disabilities, fabric, Massachusetts, MBTA, photo, ribbon, streetcar, subway, tactile, USA, visual impairment

Although this crafty map of the MBTA rapid transit system is very obviously home-made, it has some clever ideas for helping visually impaired riders. Each route line is constructed with different materials, each with their own texture, which enables quick identification of lines by touch. Stations are marked with beads, and there are Braille labels as well, although the placement of some of them could be better. The photo was taken at a disabilities conference […]

Historical Map: Tactile/Braille Map of the Washington DC Metro, 1988

January 24, 2014

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Historical Maps

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1988, blind, blindness, Braille, J.W. Weidel, metro map, subway map, tactile, USA, vision-impaired, Washington DC, Washington Metro

A tactile map designed by J.W. Wiedel for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education. Tactile surfaces on the map reveal information about the Metrorail system for vision-impaired users, including whether stations have side or centre platforms (more information than can be found on the official map) and transfer stations. It’s hard to make out, but braille text is also included for major stations and areas. Each route line also appears to have a […]