by Kathy Brockman, President
Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.
(Editor’s Note: I have a young friend named Adam. Adam is a reader of “The Braille Forum,” and he and I have been talking, via e-mail and ACB’s toll-free number, from time to time for about two and a half years. Adam has experienced more ups and downs in his young life than many people his age. During our occasional conversations, we have celebrated many of his happy times and mourned some of the sad ones together. I am always happy to hear from Adam.
A few weeks ago, Adam called to share some especially good news. He has found the perfect living arrangement, he told me. In a few months when he has completed the course work for his high school equivalency certification, Adam will leave the group residence where he has been living this year and move to his very own apartment in Milwaukee. The apartment building is a brand-new residence planned and brought to fruition by the Badger Association of the Blind. I realized while Adam was describing the new apartment building that, coincidentally, Kathy Brockman had called me only a few weeks earlier to describe the project and the building and to ask about submitting this article. Here is the story of the new apartment complex of which the Badger Association is so justifiably proud. We are so pleased to be able to share this good news with readers of “The Braille Forum.” We wish all the residents of this new apartment building, so carefully and lovingly planned to meet their needs as people who are blind and visually impaired, many years of happiness in their new homes.
I look forward to hearing from Adam again in early summer, as he makes the move to Milwaukee, and a new chapter of independence in his life. Congratulations to the Badger Association of the Blind for this latest achievement in meeting the needs of blind and visually impaired people, and to all the new tenants in the apartment complex.)
Located in Milwaukee, Wis., the Badger Association was founded in 1919. In addition to various housing programs, over the last 70-plus years we have undertaken many other activities, including providing rehabilitation services, operating a low vision clinic, hosting recreation activities and classes, recruiting volunteers, and running a store to sell adaptive equipment for blind and visually impaired people. We also provide information and referral services for the community.
Since 1924 the Badger Association has provided housing for blind and visually impaired people. Our housing options have changed over the years. In the beginning, we purchased an old mansion which accommodated from six to eight people in each of its sleeping rooms. Then in 1969 a new building was completed with 64 private dormitory-size rooms. People who lived there shared one bathroom for every two residents. Initially, that housing option was very successful, but in the last 15 years, the number of people who wanted to live in that residence decreased. In the new century, people weren’t content to live in a single small room; everybody wanted more personal space.
Several years ago, as it became obvious to many that our association couldn’t indefinitely continue to subsidize increasingly expensive housing, our board and staff began to explore new housing options. We discovered that we could obtain special tax credit funding from the state of Wisconsin. In addition, a mortgage and some association funds would be used to finance the remainder of the project.
Early in 2001 we began the planning process for a new 58-unit apartment building in our current space, which is located at the top of a hill. There wasn’t a huge amount of space but there was enough room for a nice L-shaped building. There are four floors plus a ground floor that accommodates a dining room, storage lockers and parking for 17 cars. The building includes 30 one-bedroom and 28 two-bedroom units.
After we had secured the financial arrangements that allowed us to proceed, we hired architects and other professionals to start working on the actual construction plans. We were able to obtain low-income vouchers from the city of Milwaukee to help residents pay the rent. Since many blind and visually impaired people have limited funds, 51 of the 58 units are eligible for subsidies. At about the same time we hired a consultant to review all of our programs. We conducted several focus groups where members, current residents, participants in our recreation program and others in the community shared their ideas about what blind and visually impaired people would find helpful in an apartment building. While every suggestion and preference could not be included, a number of ideas were incorporated in our design. For example, cement of different textures and colors helps people with orientation. The two apartment buildings are very close together, with only about 15 feet separating them. Some planners were surprised to find that participants in the focus groups did not favor a fountain as an orientation device, but there is a bird in the lobby, and his chirping, along with changes in floor coverings to demarcate specific areas, helps residents with orientation.
As with any project, there were a number of delays in getting started. Once all of the necessary permits, etc. were obtained the actual construction began in October 2001. We were really sweating it out since Wisconsin winters can be a little rough. Thankfully, the winter of 2001-02 was relatively mild. A number of us took pictures throughout the process so we have a photographic record of the construction process from start to finish.
Naturally our members wanted to see the building as it was being constructed. This was quite tricky in the early stages, but we did it. ACB President Chris Gray even took a tour when he was here in April 2002 for our convention. Even in the early phases, tours enabled people to “visualize” how much space they would have — even before walls were actually built.
As the work progressed, the excitement grew. Everyday it was easier and easier to see that a real building was under construction — rather than just a pile of lumber! It was tricky getting in there since construction sites can be messy. Once, when I was on a tour there with one of our congressmen I took a small tumble while I was exiting the building. Luckily the only thing hurt was my pride; even my white blazer was fine!
Many of our residents had never lived alone or done any cooking; their meals were included in their rent. During the summer we had a rehabilitation teacher intern work with the residents to identify their needs. Models of the stove, refrigerator and microwave were available so they could learn to operate them. Of course, these appliances are labeled with braille and tactile markings in each apartment. Additional instructions and training were provided for residents as needed.
In September each staff person was assigned to a resident to provide assistance during the moving process. This included helping with change of address notifications, packing, the moving process, unpacking, getting groceries, orienting residents to their new building, and providing any other necessary assistance. The staff and a number of volunteers worked on this project, going well beyond the call of duty.
Construction was far enough along so that residents could move in the last week of September. There were a number of blind and visually impaired people from the community who were not members of the Badger Association who decided to move into the residence as well. One member told me the big moving day was like having everyone move into a college dorm with the accompanying chaos and excitement. Naturally, there were a number of small projects that needed to be completed in the building, and some unforeseen problems were also identified. As with any new building, these are being addressed as quickly as possible.
Early in the summer an appeal had been sent out to our members and donors asking for contributions to help our new residents to furnish their apartments. There was a great response both with funds and household items and furniture which we held in storage until after the move. Many of the residents needed furniture for a living room, kitchen and all the various necessities for cooking in their own kitchens. Many people had limited incomes and would have found it impossible to purchase all these items themselves.
A week after the big moving day, we set out all the items that had been donated and invited residents to come and choose the items they needed. Many of our new tenants do not have families who could help them get this kind of start, and all appreciated the opportunity to begin life in their new apartments with many of the basic necessities being provided. A number of visual elements were incorporated into the apartment building. Color schemes and placement have been utilized to allow a person with limited vision to maximize the use of remaining vision. For example, the carpeted hallways have a border of high contrast color. In the kitchen a three-inch dark green border is used which distinguishes the countertop from the floor as a person looks down.
Standard white or tan outlet covers were replaced with black covers and all outlets are raised two feet above the floor to bring them closer to one’s field of vision and assist with mobility. All overhanging kitchen cabinets have built-in lighting to facilitate recognition of items placed on countertops — without causing excessive glare. Dark-colored couches/chairs and black walnut wood furniture, all built by a carpenter who is blind, are utilized in the lobby and dining room to maximize contrast between furniture and flooring. Indirect lighting and glare reduction are utilized. Apartments have twice the lighting of ordinary units and dimmer switches replace standard light switches to create maximum and optimal lighting without glare. Wall sconces replace all standard recessed ceiling fluorescent lights in public areas such as the hallway. Each stairway landing has a distinct color to assist in identifying one floor from another. Additional lighting has been added to exterior walkways and the building facade to assist with safe travel at night and provide added security.
Changes in tactual surfaces enhance mobility and facilitate identification of various design elements. Raised dots/lines and braille are utilized throughout the building to convey information. Kitchen appliances are marked with fluorescent/raised-line markings. All microwaves have dial rather than digital controls. Heating and air conditioning controls have tactual markings. All the stoves have control panels in front so people don’t have to reach over hot burners to find control knobs.
Holes cut into the center of cutting boards allow cooks to collect trash with a can placed underneath or to anchor a bowl used for food preparation. Braille, large print labels and magnets in the shape of food, for example, peas, beans, etc., can be placed on canned goods to help people who cannot read standard labels to identify their contents.
The lobby floor provides high tactual contrast with hard tile flooring along typical walking pathways and soft carpet flooring for sitting areas. There are tactual brick imprints along the edges of exterior sidewalks to help with orientation. Braille and tactual large-print signage are utilized throughout. Stair railings have rings at the end so travelers know they are near a landing. Hallways are lined with orientation rails, which lead to a recessed opening at each apartment doorway. People can utilize these openings to assist in orienting themselves and others to specific apartments, for example, the fourth opening on the left is my apartment.
Each floor has an art theme to help residents know what floor they’re on when they get off the talking elevator. There is a quilt theme, audible art, and distinctive sculptures on different floors. All handles in the building are easy-to-operate levers, rather than doorknobs. Dining room tables are square and parallel to walls to assist people in identifying walls, counters or doorways. Some other features include ice makers in the freezers to eliminate having to get an ice tray from the sink to the freezer. Enhanced security includes cameras to monitor all public areas.
Apartments have electronic deadbolt key entrances and exterior doors utilize electronic access cards. Sliding closet doors are hung from the ceiling rather than gliding on the floor to keep items from disappearing into the tracks. Each apartment entrance door is equipped with a two-foot by one-foot shelf so that people have a place to put groceries or purses while they’re opening their front doors.
Mailboxes are supersized since braille periodicals, such as “The Braille Forum,” and books are often much larger than standard print. There are extra towel bars in the bathrooms. Doorways all over the building are large enough to accommodate wheelchairs and half of the units have wheel-in showers to allow older people to age in place. Since blind and visually impaired people are more reliant on sound, all interior walls have extra soundproofing insulation. Floors have two layers of plywood and extra carpet padding, windows are upgraded, and hallway floors are built with six inches of concrete to lessen traffic noise.
The fire alarms are equipped with undulating alarm noise rather than a steady noise to give moments of silence that assist with orientation, hazard identification and oral assistance from others. A “dog relief area” and washroom with raised bathtub will assist people with guide dogs and/or pets. The courtyard includes many scented plants to add an extra dimension of enjoyment for people who are blind and visually impaired. A large-screen television with surround sound is a focal point of the lounge. The front entrance is equipped with a braille and large-print directory.
Residents can avail themselves of additional services, including volunteers who can provide transportation to medical appointments or shopping errands. In addition, a volunteer staff reads residents’ mail aloud, five days a week. The director of home operations assists with personal business including pharmacy delivery. A van is used for trips to the grocery store, where volunteer shopping assistance is provided.
Residents are enjoying the opportunities to interact with each other and take part in association programs. Now they don’t have to be concerned about transportation to and from these activities. Many other organizations use our address as a shuttle pick-up and drop-off point, so residents have a variety of options to choose among for recreation, socialization, and getting out and about.
This project was a dramatic departure from the kinds of housing and other services the Badger Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired had offered in the past. It took some of our residents a little time to get used to the new ideas and the dramatic changes, but it’s been worth the effort and the adjustment, and we’re glad our new building is such a success.
Captions
Going Up ... A construction worker stands on scaffolding, working on the new apartment building, with concrete dust flying around him. Other workers on the scaffolding lay bricks in rows to make the outer walls.
Inside one of the new apartments are a number of visible adaptations: black electrical outlets and window trim, and brighter lighting.