Visually impaired people often rely on mass transportation to maximize the benefits derivable from independent community living. Yet many of these individuals regularly encounter great difficulty while attempting to use urban transit systems. This article examines the concept of accessible environments for the visually impaired and then describes the role of the federal government in encouraging local transit authorities to comply with Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that requires barrier-free access to all users. It concludes with a summary of the particular problems experienced by visually handicapped travelers as they negotiate the rapid rail mode of transit.
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