Session 12 of 12
Course Recap: The why what & who of TGSIs
Course: TSA-TGSI-1.12 | Length: 8:45 mins | Instructor: Dean Homicki
Transcript
I'm Dean Homicki. Thank you for being a part of this learning series:
The why what and who of TGSIs
We covered a lot of general and specific information in this course so let's take a quick review and recap on the critical aspects of what we covered.
In Module 1.1, we began with the facts of Vision-impairment in Australia. We based our information on the 2019, Eye Health report into vision-impairment from The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (The AIHW). We learned that over 13 Million Australians (or 55% of the Australian population) were affected by one or more long-term vision disorders.
We saw the magnitude of sight-related disease and illness and the millions of Australians that are affected.
Through our infographic, we demonstrated why Designers, Building Practitioners and Duty Holders, all who hold a position of power and influence over the built environment, are required by law to embrace the correct use of TGSIs in their professional practice.
In Module 1.2, we reviewed the Federal and State Laws, Codes and Standards that make it: 'Against the law to discriminate against a person because of disability when providing facilities or access to public premises.'
We identified the key guiding documents which included: The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 The Disability (Access to Premises- Buildings) Standards 2010 and, The National Construction Code (NCC).
We were made aware that to adhere to the specific criteria's of the DDA family of Standards, including the NCC, (or in Australian Law), that we all must apply and conform to the latest version of the Australian TGSI Standard: AS/NZS 1428.4.1
To enhance the safety, dignity, and independence with access to the built environment for a person living with a vision-impairment, TGSIs must be: Consistent. Because without consistency in TGSI applications, we could be Warning or Directing a person to the wrong location, even creating new obstacles and or perhaps causing more hazards.
Module 3 covered 'How is vision-impairment defined? We learnt about the terms of Visual Acuity and Visual field and how they are used to describe the functionality of a person's visual system.
We saw that in Australia, a person experiencing a Visual Acuity of 6/60 or a Visual Field of 18 degrees or less, describes them as vision-impaired and legally blind.
In our fourth session together Module 4, we reviewed, 'What are the types of Vision-impairments? That Vision-impairments range from mild-vision loss to total blindness or having no perception of light.
The six most common forms of vision impairments in Australia are:
Cataracts
Diabetic Retinopathy
Glaucoma
Retinitis Pigmentosa or (Tunnel Vision)
(AMD) Aged- related Macular Degeneration
(NLP) No Light Perception or Total blindness
In Module 5, we gained an understanding of what parts of a person's visual system is affected by a vision-impairment through graphically dissecting The Anatomy of the eye. We travelled in the steps of a person experiencing each of the most common forms of vision impairment.
In Modules 6 to 11, through a series of virtual simulations, we descended a staircase, then negotiated a pedestrian crossing, demonstrating what it might be like to orientate yourself if you had: Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, Retinitis Pigmentosa or (Tunnel Vision), (AMD) Aged-related Macular Degeneration, (NLP) No Light Perception or Total blindness
These 6 virtual simulations, made us all aware of why and how Australian Laws and Regulations serve a valuable purpose in our communities. It made it very clear the importance of consistency in designing built environments, the products used and the quality of their installations applied in them. And, in particular, the use of TGSIs.
Nothing is more critical than that the design, supply and installation of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs) be applied and installed in conformance with Australian TGSI Standards.
So, as we conclude this learning series on TGSIs, You now know about:
Why we have and need TGSIs: As a means assist the orientation of persons who are blind or vision-impaired
What the problem is that TGSIs solve: the safe mobility of a person by providing information for where they are, where they are going and, where they have been, and,
Who is affected and what we need to do about it: The 13 million persons or 55% of the Australian population who are affected by vision-impairment. And the Laws, Codes and Standards that guide us on what do about it.
With your professional investment in designing, building or maintaining Built Environments that have or require TGSIs, you'll be part of a solution to improving the lives of over 13 million Australian with a vision-impairment. You'll also be creating and facilitating a more accessible and inclusive community for all persons.
And with an aging Australian population… that's a problem worth solving.
If you are continuing your learning journey in this series, in the next course (TSA-TGSI-2), we'll learn all about:
All of the different types of TGSIs.
We also summarize each TGSIs individual technical specifications with the Australian TGSI Standard and how the vision-impaired uses TGSIs.
So join me as we get the facts on 'What are TGSIs and How do they work?'
I'm Dean Homicki and thank you for being a part of this TGSI Series here at staebl.academy.
I look forward to being with you in future courses, tutorials and workshops and the next learning session. Bye for now.
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Sources
TSA-TGSI-1.12 - This staebl.academy course module has drawn information from the following sources:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. Eye health. Cat. no. PHE 260. Canberra: AIHW. Reviewed 20th January 2020
(RIDBC) Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children - Source: http://www.ridbc.org.au/blindness
Vision Australia - Sources:
https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/eye-conditions/cataracts
https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/eye-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy
https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/eye-conditions/glaucoma
https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/eye-conditions/retinitis-pigmentosa
https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/eye-conditions/Aged-Related-Macular-Degeneration
BBC News Online - Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-31487662
American Foundation for the Blind - Source: https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/eye-conditions/low-vision-and-legal-blindness-terms-and-descriptions#TotalBlindness
Medical News Today - Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320608.php
Visability Source: http://www.visability.com.au/community-education/vision-impairment/
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992, No. 135, Authorised Version C2018C00125 registered 19/04/2018
The Disability (Access to Premises- Buildings) Standards 2010, See Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 (Cth). The Premises Standards cover matters such as the design and construction of ramps and stairways, accessible toilets, and hearing augmentation systems. The current Premises Standards are available at www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011C00214, but note that these Standards are currently under review, so may be revised after the date of this publication, Guidelines on the application of the Premises Standards (Version 2) - (2013) are available at www.humanrights.gov.au/guidelinesapplication-premises-standards
The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002
The National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 or The Building Code of Australia
AS/NZS 1428.4.1: 2009 incorporating amendments 1 and 2: Design for Access and Mobility: Means to assist the orientation of people with a vision-impairment - Tactile Ground Surface Indicators -Preface, Page 2
