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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1974)
Blind students will have more than their memory to help them find their way around UNL this fall. A booklet of 12-14 Braille maps of both Lin coln campuses memorizes the two areas for the students. The bookfet, a project of the Office of University ' Information, will contain two maps which combine to cover east campus and 10 or 12 of the city campus, according to In formation Officer Bob Van Neste. He estimated 50 book lets will be made. There are usually 12-18 blind or visually impaired students each semester, he said. Bob Payne of the Ad missions Office said that includes two Phi Beta Kappa graduates in the past five years. Betty Hofmann said she hopes the maps will count eract a fear associated with the University's size. It's a factor she said has discouraged blind stu ents from enrolling at UNL. Miss Hofmann is an orientation counselor for the State Division of Reha bilitation Services for Vis ually Impaired. She is also earning a masters degree in rehabilitation teaching through UNL. She lost her sight 2V2 years ago. "The University's size has always led blind people to smaller, easier-to-learn campuses. But I think the University has a lot to offer," she said. - She said the maps also will add to blind upper classmen's confidence and independence. Wednesday, august 21, 1974 Van Neste said the Braille maps are based on aerial-view maps of UNL used for construction and planning. Four variations on their surfaces tell blind stu dents what's there. Lawns are smooth; sidewalks are raised, smooth surfaces; . building tops are screen wire; and danger areas such as streets and con struction sites are the texture of sandpaper. The 12-14 master maps were assembled by Daniel Watts, a fifth-year archi tecture student at UNL. He pasted cardboard, screen wire and sand paper at appropriate loca tions. Each 10" x 10" map was duplicated on a Thermo-Form machine operated by the state rehabilitaion division for Braille printing. A plastic sheet is set over the master map and a heat light and vaccuum pump mold the sheet to the master form. TN m la !-: -;it kt 1 . - i r .... i t. J a. i i -- - LjLjlJ LJ LIvjJ vjLiLi Miss Hofman will write a Braille key to accompany each map, she said. On each key will be instruc tions for finding doors to buildings, for counting steps, and telling of sound cues such as generators and fountains which she said blind people depend on. "A lot of that, sighted people don't pick up on when they lead the blind on campus tours," she said. She will lead a tour this fall, she said. Van Neste said the Information Office will keep the master maps. They may be kept up to date each year with minor revisions, he said. Cost of this summer's project will be about $200, he said. "This has been a great experience for me," Watts said. "There is a new kind of awareness on the part of architects and planners for the handi capped and their problems." ! u ; f 4 v Or'l iPTj Open 8-5, Monday -Saturday daily nebraskan IfouH never laiow how much i you can go imtilyuiidoit If you can spare even a few hours a week, ypu can help people. ft Check 0 good Th To the m 0 & DON'T WASTE YOU IR TlfTlE STANDING IN LINE EVERYDAY REASONABLE PRICES en m FOOS PINS and PONG ore her; 8 Truck on down ! land drink 9 9 m 9 REmEfTlBER- Cet your ale at th i e Rail brass ami 1436 "O" s;t. 0 0 0 0 0 32- pw,,. ye"v r" y" Jiff n n o j i f .isuaitii. f'Jii4: . . JL i Ac i ifs Pi i r H Call the ' oluntary Action Center in your town. Or write: "Volunteer: Washington. DC. 2001 3. vrniiiriitter: m 'i wrav E the Rest 0 0 uou t beerl 0111 If: . ..J page 7 Come Bsi'st m & m m D & 0 0 . 0 e ' 9 9 . 0