Press Release for Immediate Release

Due to new federal mandates (July 26, 2001/DOJ, and March 6, 2002, DOT/FHWA), Detectable warnings (“Truncated Domes”) are now required at all new public ramps for the benefit of blind and visually impaired persons.

Detectable warnings (at ramps and hazardous vehicular ways) are in fact, “Braille for your feet”, and by virtue, aid blind and visually impaired in safely maneuvering those areas that sighted persons daily take for granted. You’ve probably already begun seeing these vital products installed in your area on local pedestrian ramps wondering “what the heck are those things?!”

Because of the now significant and enforceable federal mandates this is a valid story, and an important one.

In fact, it’s a story your readers need to be aware of.

It’s also appropriately, a national story as much as a local one.

Vanguard ADA Systems and their product lines came to be in 1995 because, products then available to meet the federal standards were difficult to install, expensive to maintain, and generally dangerous for those they were intended to help; blind and visually impaired persons. 

In fact, because Vanguard products were invented solely to obviate the problems inherent in all other available systems, architects, cities, municipalities and owners nationwide contacted us to find out when we’ll be in their state next. 

The answer is:  “Now!”.

In 2000, Vanguard installations could be found in just 3 states. By 2002, Vanguard products were found in 7. Today, Vanguard installations can be found in Louisiana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Arizona, California, Montana, Washington, Florida, Vermont, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, New Mexico, Tennessee, and WashingtonD.C., with more states on the way every month.

Vanguard detectable warnings are superior in every way to every other product in their class anywhere in the world.  Detectable warnings are now mandated by the Federal Access Board, the Dept. of Justice, the Federal DOT/FHWA, and by virtue, every state, city, county and municipality in the nation.

In 2002, the 9th Circuit Court (“Barden v Sacramento”) stated, among other things, that public sidewalks (and ramps) are a “public service” and therefore must meet all current ADA (Americans w/Disabilities Act) standards, including the installation of detectable warnings for blind and visually impaired. A precedent with national benefits to blind and visually impaired.

On January 22, 2004, Sacramento lost their appeal.

 As quoted from “Disability Rights Advocates” web site:

“On January 22, 2004, the court granted final approval of the settlement in Barden v. Sacramento. This case set a nationwide precedent requiring cities and other public entities to make all public sidewalks accessible. As a result of the court’s ruling in this case, public entities must address barriers such as missing or unsafe curb cuts throughout the public sidewalk system, as well as barriers that block access along the length of the sidewalks. Following the court victory, the parties reached a settlement addressing all sidewalk barrier issues City-wide.”

“Sacramento ultimately agreed to the entry of an injunction requiring the city to install 1,500 curb cuts each year until all sidewalks throughout the city have fully accessible curb cuts. The city previously had installed only 100 curb cuts per year. Third, the city agreed to install detectable warnings…”

Cities nationwide got the message:  There is no valid legal argument left for leaving one of the fastest growing group of individuals in the world out of the design standards any longer. All cities have to step up to the plate and make their public areas accessible to all.

The final impasse to true and full accessibility to all people, blind, visually/mobility impaired, or simply infirm has just been removed.

Ours is a great story because it’s about a product that serves blind and visually impaired persons, it’s a great story because it’s about local installers/business people in your readership area, and it’s a great story because finally, through federal mandates and exceptional federal leadership, we’re now building a community, nationwide, to allow all people, not just able bodied to have the same access to the entire world as everyone else has, not just, in their cases, a small 1 block area around their own homes, or in some cases… just their own homes.

This is truly an important story.

Vanguard is the fastest growing firm nationwide in this industry, and it includes licensed, trained, local firms in every area of your readership.

This is a story about a company growing with lightning speed, it’s a story about local, small businesses nationwide adding value to their own businesses by becoming involved in products and services that create better, more productive communities for a group of folks that too many of us have limited understanding of, and it’s a story of how in the process of all the above, the world is becoming safer for people that heretofore felt far too excluded from the same world most of us enjoy every day without ever considering how truly lucky we are, and how much others struggle just to survive.

Equally, it’s a story about local firms who, in the normal course of business, are allowed the rare privilege of making a huge difference in those very same lives.

It’s a great story.

I very much hope you’ll allow me, through your writers, to tell it.

Thank you for your time. Please feel free to contact either, myself or any Vanguard licensee (please see our website) at your leisure for additional information.