New Humber River Hospital to receive custom planters, tables!
Toronto - The Humber River Hospital redevelopment project is nearing completion, which means Landmark by Crozier is one step closer to showcasing its products, found on outdoor terraces throughout the facility.
Landmark by Crozier, a division of Crozier Enterprises specializing in high-quality site furnishings and construction castings, is proud to be supplying the new, fully digital hospital (located near Keele Street and Wilson Avenue in Toronto) with 30 custom planters and six courtyard table and chair sets.
New website provides key information & news on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators
Toronto, June 18, 2015 - Addressing the needs of communities looking to make streets safer for those with visual impairments, Landmark by Crozier, a division of Crozier Enterprises and a Canadian supplier for construction castings and high quality site furnishings, today announced the launch of a new website focused on providing key information on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI), which alert of upcoming street crossings.
Twsi.ca was designed to achieve several goals including content to better demonstrate the full spectrum of TWSI’s (sometimes referred to as Detectable Warning Plates) and the role they play in improving accessibility, along with updates on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)’s new legislation coming in effect January 1st, 2016.
Landmark by Crozier, a Canadian supplier of construction castings and high quality site furnishings, is the proud supplier of Neenah Foundry’s Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI)’s. We supply Neenah TWSI’s in Eastern Canada, including the provinces of Ontario, Quebec & the Maritimes.
Q:What are Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI’s)?
A: Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI’s), are devices with defined sets of embossed patterns that have been agreed upon by International Accessibility Experts, that either provide persons with visual impairments a) warning of a hazard or b) following a direction.
Q:Where did Tactile Walking Surface Indicators Originate?
A: Tactile Walking Surface Indicators were originally developed in Japan in the 1960’s when a member of the Royal Household was visually impaired, and every effort possible was initiated to assist this person’s mobility in the public realm. Since then Japan has spearheaded many initiates for assistive devices, and TWSI’s are still more common than anywhere else in the world.
Cast iron recommended for City of Toronto standard
Results are in after a year-long Pilot Project to determine which four materials of tactile walking surface indicators (TWSI)’s would be recommended as the new City of Toronto standard. And the winner is- cast iron!
In order to comply with the Design of Public Space Standards (Part IV.1 of Ontario Regulation 191/11, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005), which included new legislative requirements to have TWSI’s at the bottom of curb ramps and depressed curbs to provide alerts for those with vision loss, the City of Toronto started a Pilot Project to best decide what standard they should adopt for TWSI’s on their sidewalk surfaces.
How tactile walking surface indicators make streets safer
According to the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB), half a million Canadians are living with vision loss, with more than 50,000 more losing their sight every year. TWSI's play an instrumental role in improving accessibility.
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators(TWSI) act as a warning device to alert those with visual impairments of upcoming street crossings. As shown above, the plates consist of uniform sized, spaced domes installed on depressed ramps at public sidewalk crossings.
Report details how tactile walking surface indicators make streets safer
According to the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB), half a million Canadians are living with vision loss, with more than 50,000 more losing their sight every year. TWSI's play an instrumental role in improving accessibility.
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators(TWSI) act as a warning device to alert those with visual impairments of upcoming street crossings. As shown above, the plates consist of uniform sized, spaced domes installed on depressed ramps at public sidewalk crossings.
When a person with vision loss walks down the sidewalk using a long white cane, they will detect the domes on the TWSI before stepping on it. Once detected, they recognize that they’ve reached a transition from sidewalk to road and will adhere to their other training to safely cross the road.
Click on the TWSI logo below for full details!
