Next Stop: Arlington

Next stop: Arlington. Next Stop: Arlington. The words flashed onto the electronic sign on the Green Line. Next stop: Arlington. Next stop: Arlington. The only problem? I saw that sign for thirty minutes yesterday while the train was stuck between Boylston and Arlington.

"Little sign, I wish you would tell me why the train isn't moving?" I stared at the sign, willing it to life to tell me what was the delay?

Do you know Boston has the worst transit system for those who are deaf? There's absolutely no system to let deaf individuals know what's going on. But what's perplexing is that about two or three years ago, the MBTA implemented the electronic signs on the train. But it only tell you the next stop (and even then sometimes it doesn't tell you the right stop). At Park St station, there's an electronic sign that says Welcome to MBTA over and over again. Why doesn't any of these signs tell me when the train is coming, why it's not coming, delays I should know about?

I once got on the D-line, double-checking that all the signs said D-line. I rode it from Park St to Kenmore. But something happened at Kenmore. The train announced that it was now the C-line not the D-line. Of course, I couldn't hear the announcement so I stayed on the train, when I got pass Kenmore and came out at ST. Mary's. When I realized what happened it was too late, it was a blizzard and that was the last train running. So I had to walk two miles through a blizzard to get to my house. I didn't know.

Another time, I had to take the train to Malden Center on Saturday. This time I was taking the Orange Line. It stopped at Sullivan Square but instead of continuing towards Oak Grove, the train reversed directions and headed back to Park St. I got off at Community College, flagged down an MBTA employee who looked at me with disdain then walked away. Apparently, the train was going through construction at Wellington. I didn't know.

On my way to see a Broadway show, I got on the Red Line at Central Square. The train moved perhaps one inch then stayed for an hour. Apparently, there was a fire at Park St station so all trains were on standby. I didn't know.

I'm a little tired of not knowing. I'd love it if our class banded together and got the MBTA to incorporate a universal design that included the deaf!

Universal Design, a life experience

Hi everyone!
I'm quite thrilled to be in T-560 and to work amongst brilliant minds. Universal Design has been an integral part of my life as an individual with deafness. While it's not necessarily a universal design concept, my mother made me a special vest that had characters like the smurfs, carebears, strawberry shortcake on them. I had these enormous hearing aids that I call the original Ipods, huge earpieces with wires dangling precariously to a box that had to be strapped into a black vest. My mom thought it might be easier for me to wear if she made me a special vest. Of course, now all the kids asked their moms for a special vest.
A little bit about me: I'm from Louisiana (yes, got hit by Katrina), was born and raised there. I majored in microbiology at LSU but my premed advisor told me that I would not pass the hearing test administered at medical schools and that I choose a different major (I know, it's an outrage). I shouldn't have listened but I did and switched my major to English and Psychology. After graduation, no one would hire me because I couldn't hear (it's illegal, I know, but when it's subtle you can't really do much about it). So I told myself I worked far too hard to just settle so I decided to go where the opportunities were. I flipped a coin- heads Boston, tails NYC. Boston it was. So I packed two luggages and finally ventured for the first time in my life, north of Shreveport. My family all thought I was crazy to go so far where I knew no one and where it was cold. ("Honey, it snows there don't you know?" said my mom.) Sometimes you can't wait for opportunities to find you, you must find them yourself.
Well, I have tons more to tell you about myself but I was taught that a good Southern storyteller leaves them wanting more. Til the next post and I'll tell you about dancing at the Moulin Rouge, my life as a professional salsa dancer, running a marathon, jumping off a train in Italy.
All the best,
Kerry
PS it's my first time doing a blog, I hope I did okay!