MWABA Newsletter: Saturday Goalball, Thursday Night Tandems, Open Streets, CalvertCliffs Hike, FallRides, and Crosswalk Study Participants Needed!

September 30, 2024

Hello MWABA,

Come to Goalball!
If you’ve never tried it, or you haven’t played since you were a kid, now is the time to join us. Fall is for fundamentals! We will be teaching the basics every weekend. So come out to the Columbia Heights Community Center, 1480 Girard St NW on October 5, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and learn how to play!

Our next tandem ride is this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Eastern Market. Sign up here by Tuesday night and for our other October rides: https://forms.gle/KGcSkFbwCvus883X6

D.C. Open Streets is this Saturday (October 5th) on 7th Street NW near the Mt. Vernon Square Metro. We’ll do tandem bike demonstrations at 10:30 and 1:30, and there’ll be other bike and fitness activities, plus music and dance performances. We could use more people to help at our table, or stop by if you’re nearby! Find out more: 7th Street NW – Fall 2024 | Open Streets DC Sign up here to volunteer:
https://forms.gle/4TwfrTwNy6omTq9n7 Or call or text Shira (847-217-9505).

While we’ve begun to match people for the Pumpkin Ride on October 26th, you can continue to sign up here if you’re interested in doing it and/or the Cider Ride on November 2nd:
https://forms.gle/fjG78iLkFDEQwHTAA

Our next hike will take place Sunday, October 13, where we’ll travel to Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby, MD. We’ll enjoy the beautiful trails steps from the Chesapeake Bay and also do some fossil hunting near the beach! It’ll be a fun tactile experience. If you are able to drive and/or guide please reach out to Kevin at kevin.andrews94. We’ll depart from the Largo metro station around 8:30am. More info next week, but please sign up: https://forms.gle/VFAX9t8P592fgiuN8 so we can start to get an accurate headcount.

Subject: Seeking participants with low vision for a research study
You can help us evaluate how different crosswalk markings affect street crossing by pedestrians with low vision. The crosswalks we are evaluating may be marked with typical white crosswalk markings, or they may have different colors.
The UNC Highway Safety Research Center, in conjunction with Accessible Design for the Blind, is looking for volunteers who are low vision to participate in a study on the effect of crosswalk markings on the accessibility of crossing in the Washington, D. C. area in early November. The study will take about two hours, and the compensation is $75 and travel to the study area will be reimbursed. There will be day and evening appointments.
We are looking for experienced travelers who don’t have full vision and who regularly travel independently outdoors including crossing streets. This study is limited to travelers with reduced acuity, restricted fields, sensitivity to glare, or loss of contrast sensitivity but who can see crosswalks. Travelers who typically travel with a cane, use a telescope, or just use their remaining vision may qualify. Guide Dog users with low vision and who own and use a cane will be asked to use their cane rather than their Guide Dog.
If you decide to take part in the study, you will be asked to find crosswalks, align to cross, and cross when it is safe. An orientation and mobility specialist will be with you while you travel all routes.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please call me at 301-412-4224 or email me at mbcleveland to find out if you are eligible for the study.

Thanks, and see you out there!

Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes
Sports and fun for everyone!
Http://gomwaba.org