Accessibility

The Renaissance Society Accessibility Committee offers the following information toward achieving the fullest, most positive experience of Renaissance for all members. Accessibility concerns include hearing and understanding, vision and mobility. Each of the Renaissance Society values broadly addresses accessibility: Member Participation and Connection, Diversity, Lifelong Learning, Community Engagement, Organizational Integrity, Gratitude and Appreciation and Respect and Service.

Hearing and understanding: Many of us of a "certain age" may be experiencing hearing loss and not even recognize it. We would like to gently suggest to all RS members to be aware of audience etiquette that can increase others' enjoyment. That includes being aware that eating in the classrooms may be disruptive to those nearby. Paper and plastic bags being opened or closed make noise that interrupts a speaker or presenter. Also, audience members who have an ad lib question or comment should make an effort to share it audibly with the whole room, not just the presenter.

We recognize that RS cannot resolve all accessibility issues. It is our hope that the information provided here will enable all members to more fully understand the challenge to full participation without some accessibility accommodation. In future issues of The Recorder, the committee will address concerns and offer tips and suggestions to enhance the Renaissance experience. We want to learn from you as well. Please contact the Membership, Diversity and Community Engagement Committee if you have ideas or concerns or wish to participate.

Transportation

Renaissance members may park in either student or faculty/staff (now being called Employee) parking spaces. If you have a California Disabled Placard or license plate, you may park in any disabled parking place, but you must display both your Renaissance Society parking permit and your Disabled Placard. To find out how to get a Disabled Placard or Plate, go to this this state Department of Motor Vehicles site.

To help you get around campus, the Herky Streetcar is an open-air, medium-sized shuttle that picks up passengers between Parking Structure V and Amador Hall. We are welcome to ride it! It operates Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The loop takes about 15 minutes. Here is the route, with stops marked (look for yellow signs).

Sacramento Regional Transit has many policies to make using buses and light rail easier. Here is its Accessible Services site. One of those RT services on that page is the ADA Paratransit Service. It is different from scheduled buses and light rail as it does not have scheduled stops. SacRT provides door-to-door, shared ride service for individuals who are prevented from using buses and light rail due to a disability. Riders must meet the ADA eligibility requirements to qualify and must complete an eligibility process in advance.
ADA paratransit operates seven days a week, including holidays and mirrors service within a three-quarter-mile radius of an active SacRT route or light rail station. The fare is $5.50 and each ride must be requested in advance. There are designated stops on the CSUS campus. Here is a map of those stops.

Hearing/Understanding Guidelines for Seminar Leaders and Presenters

In order to effectively lead seminars and improve the hearing and understanding of all participants, all leaders, co-leaders and presenters should model aware, compassionate behavior by following these seven guidelines at all times:

• Speak slowly and clearly, with face and mouth visible to all seminar participants whenever speaking.
• Use the sound system, whether speaking or introducing a speaker. Also ask guest speakers to use the sound system.
• Use portable microphones, for comments or questions by seminar participants.
• Always repeat or summarize what is asked or said by each seminar participant. The seminar leader may hear and understand a comment or question, but people behind or beside the questioner can miss a lot because the words are directed forward and because the speakers face and mouth may not be visible.
• Never engage in a discussion with participants in the front rows that is not repeated or summarized for all participants to understand.
• When possible, activate the subtitles or closed captioning of any video that is shown during a seminar. Be aware that videos that include loud music or other sounds can make dialogue or narration unintelligible to those with hearing loss.
• Leave front seats vacant for those with hearing and understanding issues. Please use signage that you will be provided, in each session of your seminars, as a reminder of the front-row seating reservations.

Smartphone Tips

If you are using a smartphone or tablet, you might not realize the many ways it can help you as you are growing older. For starters, using your phone or tablet to keep up your schedule on the Calendar and your friends and families on the Contacts address book can keep you organized and on top of things. This can be a big help when your memory begins to fade!

If you are using an iPhone or iPad, there are many ways to make them work better for you. Go to Settings, then General, then Accessibility. Try out all the modifications you can make to help you with vision, interaction, hearing, media (subtitles) and learning. One great shortcut is the Magnifier.

If you are using an Android phone or tablet, go to Settings and then look through the various topics that might offer Accessibility modifications, such as Sound and Display.

Remember, no matter what your phone, if you have a question or problem, you can always Google or YouTube it and you'll likely find a solution!

Campus Pedestrian Safety

The Risk Management Services office at CSUS deals with safety on campus and liability issues. Of interest to Renaissance Society members is their charge to implement and advance pedestrian safety on campus. If you observe or are involved in an example of unsafe driving by any vehicle, including a small electric cart, please call 916 278-6456 or 916 278-5447. Be prepared to provide as much specific information as you can, such as day, time, location, a description of the vehicle and driver and details about what happened.

Useful Websites

Online hearing test.

Expand Your Horizons: Be My Eyes helps people who are blind or low-vision live more independent lives (viewable with iPhone or iPad)