Inclusive
Walk Audit
Facilitator’s Guide

DECEMBER 2020

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This guide was developed based on input from people with a broad range of disabilities.
This guide was supported by the Grant or Cooperative Agreement Number, DD161603/DD000009, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the
Department of Health and Human Services.
WORKING GROUPPROJECT TEAM

Alex Stoiaken

Emily Smoak
Susan Bishop
Minnesota Department of HealthCorwin Morton
Erik Anderson
Greg Baker
Heidi Myhre
Jane Van Deusen
Jennifer Lawson
Jillian Nelson
Melvin Hagenson

Colin Harris
Kristen O’Toole
Maria Wardoku
Alta Planning + Design
Kjensmo Walker
This Inclusive Life

Nell Coonen-Korte
Nicole Plans
Pallavi Shattuck
Peter Vader
Robert Waltz
Scott EngelThis
Inclusive
Life
i

CONTENTS

GLOSSARY.....................................................................................................................................01
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................03
PLANNING A MORE INCLUSIVE MEETING......................................................................05
Meeting time and location............................................................................................................ 05
Recruiting and communicating with attendees before meeting...............................................07
Self-guided virtual walk audit......................................................................................................... 10
Day-of meeting set up.....................................................................................................................11
Meeting facilitation..........................................................................................................................13
CONDUCTING A MORE INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT.........................................................15
Walk audit planning..........................................................................................................................15
Facilitation before the walk audit.................................................................................................. 19
Facilitation during walk audit..........................................................................................................21
APPENDIX..................................................................................................................................... 23
Connecting with disability organizations......................................................................................23
Centering the experiences of people with disabilities.................................................................23
Writing inclusive meeting invitations............................................................................................25
Potential accommodations............................................................................................................27
For more information or for assistance........................................................................................29
Example walk audit worksheet..................................................................................................... 30

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEGLOSSARYDISABILITY
A physical or mental condition that may limit or alter one or more major life
activities for a person. Disabilities may be temporary or permanent, and people
may have multiple disabilities. Disability encompasses differences or limitations tovision, hearing, speech, mobility, cognition, and more.
ADA FIELD WALKMinnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) projects include Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) unit field walks as part of the process of identifying
pedestrian facility needs in a specific area. Field walks are a type of walk audit thatis technical and focused on requirements to meet ADA standards. They are nottypically used as a community engagement tool.
WALK AUDIT
A walk audit is an activity in which participants evaluate the walking environment
and identify issues that impact their comfort and safety. A walk audit can be used
as a community engagement tool.
WALKING
Walking is an inclusive term that includes both ambulatory and non-ambulatorymodes. Walking encompasses all forms of mobility devices, including using awheelchair, cane, walker, or other mobility device that allows the user to travel athuman speed.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEINTRODUCTION

A walk audit is an activity in which
community members and decision makers
observe and identify opportunities toimprove the comfort and safety of thesurrounding environment.
People do walk audits for a variety ofreasons:• A group of neighbors might do a walk auditof a street or area of their community tobuild consensus around changes they wantto advocate for.
• A city planner or engineer might conduct
a walk audit with community members to
inform the planning or design process for astreet or area of the city.
• Students, teachers, and parents might doa walk audit of the area around a school aspart of a Safe Routes to School planning
process.

Walk audits are a common public
engagement activity used in pedestrianplanning, but often are not accessible to or
inclusive of people with disabilities. People
with disabilities are more likely to rely on
walking for daily trips and may be moreaware of and impacted by problems in thetransportation network. Planning and street
design processes benefit from incorporating
the expertise of people with disabilities;
when a street is accessible for people withdisabilities, it is accessible for all people.
This document provides specific guidance
and information on how to better include
people with disabilities and to highlightdisability in walk audits so that planning
processes are more inclusive. The document
also provides tips on planning more
inclusive meetings that are applicable toany kind of meeting.

People with disabilities are more likely to rely on
walking for daily trips and may be more aware ofand impacted by problems in the transportation
network. When a street is accessible for people withdisabilities, it is accessible for all people.
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Walk audit facilitators and participants discuss their experience.

PLANNING TIMELINE OVERVIEW

2 weeks before walk audit

The timeline below provides an overview ofplanning activities leading to a walk audit.
The next chapter describes these activities
in more detail.

• Post screen-reader accessible versions ofall visual materials online and/or share withparticipants via email

1-2 months before walk audit• Connect with local disability organizations• Select meeting location and date thatworks for organizers and key participants• Plan for compensating attendees for theirtime and expertise• Obtain disability simulation devices (ifusing)
1 month before walk audit• Publicize walk audit and request RSVPs• Directly invite people with disabilities• Plan walk audit route(s)• Develop virtual walk audit materials• Develop meeting agenda
04• Share information on accessing themeeting location• Ask participants about additional needed
accommodations
1 week before walk audit• Remind participants of the meeting timeand location, and what materials areavailable for them to review in advance• Obtain/prepare compensation for
confirmed attendees

INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEPLANNING A MORE INCLUSIVEMEETINGMEETING TIME AND LOCATION
The timing and location of the meeting should reduce barriers to participation for community
members, especially people with disabilities.

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Choose a centrally located, communityoriented meeting location accessible
by walking and transit (if applicable).
Consider hosting the meeting at one of
the following locations:• Community members may already befamiliar with and comfortable at sites likelibraries, schools, and parks. Government
office buildings may be most convenient
for staff, but may be intimidating forcommunity members.

• Public library• Public school• Park• These spaces have a greater likelihood of
being on transit lines when available.

• Recreation center• Community meeting room in a public
housing apartment building, restaurant,
coffee shop, grocery store, etc.
Consult with local disability services andadvocacy groups for ideas on accessible
meeting locations.
Schedule the meeting such that themeeting location will be open for at least
an hour prior to the meeting start time andfor at least an hour after the meeting end
time. Organizer should be ready for people
to arrive 30 min before start and be
prepared to remain until all have departed.

• Allows flexibility for participants arriving
via paratransit, which has a larger drop off
and pick up window than transit.
• Allows participants to come early andbecome comfortable in the space prior
to the meeting.

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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Walk audit participants pause to discuss their experience on a walking route and rate their comfort on a scale of 1 to 5
using their hands.

Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Check that meeting building, meeting
room, and bathrooms are accessible,
making sure to look for the following:• Allows participants to access themeeting independently.

• Room signs have braille• Doors have push buttons• There are no stairs between the sidewalk
and the meeting room, or ramps/
elevators are available

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDERECRUITING AND COMMUNICATING WITH ATTENDEES BEFOREMEETING
Communication prior to the meeting should aim to decrease participant stress and confusion,
set clear expectations, and signal a welcoming environment for people of all abilities. See the
Appendix for an example of how to write an inclusive meeting invitation.

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Contact disability services and advocacy
organizations and invite participation fromstaff and clients. Notice and invitations
should be sent at least two weeks prior toevent.

• Alerts people with disabilities toplanning processes that may impact
them. Increases the likelihood that theexperiences of people with disabilities will
inform your plan, and connects people
without disabilities to new perspectives.

Tips for connections with disability
organizations are in the Appendix.
Offer compensation for meeting
participants’ time and travel costs• Advance notice gives people withdisability planning time to participate.

• Food and drinks at the meeting• Attendees who are not alreadycompensated as part of their work,
regardless of their disability status,
should be compensated for their time as
an expression of appreciation for theircontributions.

Include participant compensationin the project budget (possibly as amaterials expense, depending on agency
policy). Consider travel and time when
determining compensation amount. (ex.
$15 per hour + $5 for transit to and frommeeting= $50 for a 2.5 hour meeting)• Compensation for time and travel costs
especially helps to support participationof people with low incomes, and affirms
the value of their input. This is also
more inclusive because many people
are already attending in a professional
capacity and are paid to be there.

Be clear on what participants can expect
at the meeting.

• Helps people decide if the meeting is agood use of their time.

• Bus vouchers• Stipend/gift cards• Reduces stress and anxiety.

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Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Prior to the meeting, proactively ask
participants what accommodations would
help them participate fully in the meeting.
Meeting invitations/notices should
provide information on who to contact
to request accommodations (ex. For
accommodations, please contact [NAME
and CONTACT INFORMATION] by[DATE]).

• Relieves some of the stress of asking forassistance.

Share questions you will ask at themeeting.

• Helps participants know what to pay
attention to and allows them to processquestions in advance and prepare
answers in a format of their choice (e.g.,
written, verbal).

• Allows meeting facilitator time to secure
equipment, recruit additional meeting
staff, hire an interpreter, etc.

• Gives people who use assistive
technology an opportunity to program
their answers in advance so they canparticipate in real-time during themeeting.
Provide all written materials in accessible
form via email or website in advance.
• Add alt text for any images.

• Allows all participants the opportunity
to preview materials and process
information at their own pace.

• Run accessibility checker tools inword processing and PDF software to
identify and fix accessibility problems in
documents.

• Allows people with low vision to follow
along during the meeting using a screen
reader on a smartphone or computer.

Provide both a phone number and an
email for questions.

• Supports different communication needs
and styles.

Send a reminder email in the days leading
up to the meeting with logistics.

• Increases meeting participation,
especially for people with memory loss.
• Reminds participants to arrange travel.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDE

Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Provide detailed information on navigating
to the meeting location at least one week
ahead of the meeting date.

• Helps participants navigate to themeeting. Signals to people withdisabilities that they are welcome.

• Location of nearest bus stop, bikeparking, drop-off area, and accessible
vehicle parking• Allows participants to plan their trip bytransit or paratransit, which often needs
to be scheduled far in advance.

• Location of ramps and elevators if anelevation change is necessary• Directions from the entrance to themeeting site (ex. Enter through themain building entrance at the cornerof Main St & 1st Ave. Turn right at the
information desk and walk 200 feet toreach the meeting room.)• Information on day-of-meeting
assistance (ex. Call XXX-XXX-XXXX if
you have trouble finding the room; Staff
will be available in the lobby to help direct
or guide you to the room; Signs will be
posted at the building entrances)
Navigation options should allow meeting
participants to socialize with organizers
or to choose options that do not requiresocializing (e.g., staff in the lobby toprovide direction, posted signage).

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Self-guided virtual walk audits can be created using Google My Maps, Google Forms, and embedded video. They allow
people to participate and provide input on their own time, and can also be offered during in-person walk audits.

SELF-GUIDED VIRTUAL WALK AUDIT
A self-guided virtual walk audit can act as a standalone form of a walk audit for participants toexperience on their own time. This format may also be offered as an in-person opportunity fora group of people. Self-guided virtual walk audits can be created using Google My Maps. This
free tool lets walk audit leaders draw lines on a map to represent a virtual walking route. The
map description should adequately describe the virtual walk audit. It should explain how the
walk audit leader will use participant feedback. Participants may also elect to directly contact
the walk audit leader with questions or comments. Contact information for the walk audit
leader should be clearly provided in the map’s description.
If possible, the walk audit leader should embed video and photos of intersections or segments
to enhance the virtual tool. Participants view the map in their web browser and watch theassociated videos. Participants can use the map to pan and zoom to locations of interest to
virtually “walk” the route. Walk audit leaders can create short surveys in Google Forms to
ask participants questions about the videos or general conditions along the walk audit route.
Questions asked in the virtual walk audit should be straightforward. They should mirror those
asked during in person walk audits.
Please note that although Google My Maps is used to quickly create self-guided virtual walkaudits, map imagery may be outdated for some locations.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDE

DAY-OF MEETING SET UP

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Arrive 1 hour early to make sure space isopen for people arriving early.

• Attendees are greeted and able to get
into the space instead of waiting in a
hallway or outside of venue.

Post wayfinding signs to meeting from thebuilding entrance to the meeting room.

• Helps participants navigate without
having a social interaction.
• Confirms directions given beforehand orverbally.

Have a greeter at building entrance;
provide their phone number toparticipants in advance.

• Assures participants that they are in theright place and helps them navigate to
the meeting room.
• Helps participants who are confusedor disoriented, or who need assistancereaching the building from the bus stopor their drop-off location.

Have people sign in and pick up materials
before entering the meeting room.

• Reduces chaos in the meeting room,
decreasing stress and sensory overload.

Anticipate that attendees may arrive
significantly early.

• Participants may arrive early due to thetransportation options available to them,or because being among the first to
arrive allows them to feel comfortable
and calm.
• If staff members are not ready for earlyarrivals, participants may feel stressed or
unwelcome.

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Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Minimize the amount of reading andwriting participants must do upon arrival.

• Minimizes the amount of assistancepeople with low vision and people withcognitive disabilities must ask for.

• If meeting participants have RSVP’d,
pre-write nametags and pre-fill any
information on sign in sheet (email,phone number, organization, etc.)• Streamlines the sign in process for all
attendees.

• Provide signature guide card if
participants must sign a document• Staff the sign in table and offer to write
names on nametags

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Provide large-print versions of hand outs
and offer to all participants at sign in.

• Supports participation of people withlow vision and people with cognitive
disabilities without requiring them to ask
for a large print version.

Remove a few chairs from the meetingtable.

• Provides space for someone using awheelchair without requiring them to ask
for assistance removing a chair.

INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEMEETING FACILITATION

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Use small groups• Reduces sensory overload.
• Provides more opportunities forparticipants to share ideas.

Take care to verbally express anythingvisual. For example, if you ask people tovote by a show of hands, verbally say “I
count five hands- I see Patrick, Jamal,etc.” If many participants are nodding, say“I see a lot of nods.”• People with low vision may not know if
the facilitator counted their vote, andmay not be able to tell how others in theroom are responding.

Set shared agreements for participation.
For example:• Participants may not share the same
expectations for behavior in a meeting.

• If you’ve spoken once, allow others the
chance to speak before you speak again• Establishing shared understanding helps
everyone know how to participate andprovides space for that participation.

• Speak for yourself, not a group• Respect all perspectives and experiences
Strive to make the content of themeeting as consistent as possible with theinformation shared prior to the meeting.

• Reduces confusion.

Offer all participants an opportunity toshare their background/what informs theirexperience. Intentionally build time into
your agenda to support this sharing.

• Recognizes the expertise eachparticipant brings to the group and helps
others contextualize their responses.

Repeat questions from the group.

• May help people with hearing
impairment and people with cognitive
disabilities participate in discussion.

• Changes to the agenda or the questions
asked can be jarring.

• Provides an opportunity for people
with disabilities to self-identify without
requiring disclosure of disabilities.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDECONDUCTING A MORE INCLUSIVEWALK AUDITThe goal of a walk audit is to meaningfully engage a broad array of people who use streets inthe community. To be as inclusive as possible, leaders should reduce barriers to participationsuch as large groups and long walking routes.
WALK AUDIT PLANNING

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Offer multiple options for participating in
the walk audit:• Participants have a variety of abilities/
preferences and having options allows
each of them to choose the optimal
conditions for engaging in the walk audit.

• Routes of varying length• Virtual• Independent
Offer a virtual walk audit option• For a walk audit designed to identify
specific issues in specific locations, walkthe route and record on video.

A virtual walk audit can support
participation:• For people who are unable or prefer not
to go on a physical walk.

• View the video with a small group. For awalk audit designed to identify generalissues in an area, “walk” the route on
Google Streetview or using pre-recorded
video in a small group and display using acomputer projector and screen.

• If conditions are inaccessible (forexample, area has no curb ramps,
limiting participation by someone using awheelchair).

• Consider providing a self-guided virtual
walk audit to broaden participation.

• If weather conditions are poor.

• For people who are overwhelmed/overstimulated outdoors.

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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Limit walk audit groups to about ten
people (including staff/leaders). Prepare
for the possibility of breaking into multiple
groups by preparing more than one staff
member to serve as a walk audit leader.

• Smaller groups allow more people toparticipate.
• Small groups reduce chaos andconfusion.
• Small groups allow people to gather
more closely together at walk audit stops,
making it easier for participants to hearand see the leader and each other.
• With a smaller group, participants may
feel less anxious about getting lost or left
behind.

Plan for at least two staff per walk audit
group (one leader and one or more
support staff).

• Support staff can be available to serve assighted guides, can walk with participants
who would like one-on-one support,
and can walk at the rear of the group to
ensure no one is left behind.

Plan a route that is a half mile long or
shorter. Additional routes may be longer,
but at least one route should be short.

• Walking more than a half mile may bedifficult or intimidating.

Provide worksheet with walk audit routes,
directions, and questions in advance.
(Example worksheet included in Appendix)• Providing routes, directions andquestions in advance helps participants
know what to expect, judge forthemselves whether they feel
comfortable participating, and reduces
stress and anxiety during the walk. Allows
people to do the walk audit on their own
time, if that is more convenient or more
comfortable for them.

• Directions should include which side of
the street to walk on and where to crossstreets.
• Describe the distance participants can
expect to walk in multiple ways: miles,
steps, city blocks, etc.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDE

Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Plan stops along the route• Stops allow participants walking atdifferent paces to regroup and allow
participants to rest.

• Plan at least one stop for every quartermile (a half mile walk should have two
stops, a mile walk should have four stops,etc.)• Choose spots where seating is available,
there is space to congregate without
blocking the sidewalk, and traffic noise islow.
• Stops should occur in the shade whenpossible. Limit stops that are in full sun
on hot days.

• Stopping to have a group conversation
rather than having a group conversation
while walking allows participants to focus
on the questions and to better see andhear the leader and others’ responses.
While walking, participants may befocused on traffic conditions, their
physical stability, and many other factorsthat make conversing challenging.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEFACILITATION BEFORE THE WALK AUDIT

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Communicate clearly with participants the
purpose of the walk audit. What planning
process will it inform? What kind of input
is useful? Make sure to align questions
asked of participants with the purpose.

• When participants are invited to share
input that ultimately cannot be used,
they may feel their time has been
wasted and lose trust, harming future
engagement efforts.
• People with disabilities may have low
trust in government due to previous
interaction with government systems, so
facilitators should be proactive in building
trust.

Provide context on the walking route.
Share any current planning processes,
upcoming street repaving/reconstruction,etc.

• Participants come to the walk audit withvarying levels of knowledge.
• Providing context helps everyone
understand the bigger picture, and leads
to more productive conversations.

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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Continued from previous page

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Explain technical terms/jargon and help
participants develop a shared vocabulary.
Potential words to define might include:• Participants may not be familiar withwords often used in pedestrian planning,or may use different words to refer tothe same thing.

• Curb ramp
• Push button• Tactile domes• High-visibility crosswalk• Participants may appreciate learning
new terms and will be better equipped
to engage in pedestrian planning andadvocate for their needs in the future.

• Slope• Cross-slope• Arterial/collector• Design speed• Right-of-way• Yield• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon(RRFB)• High-Intensity Activated crossWalK
signal (HAWK)
Center disability. If there are people withdisabilities on the walk, give them space
to share their experiences. Ask people
without disabilities to consider what it
might be like to navigate the street witha disability. Have devices like wheelchairs
and visual impairment goggles on-handand train participants on how to use themsafely and respectfully (see Appendix
for tips on centering the experiences ofpeople with disabilities)

20• When a street is accessible for people
with disabilities, it is accessible for all
people. Accessible design also benefits
people who may have an injury that
temporarily disables them as well as
people without a disability. For example,
a parent pushing a stroller appreciates
curb ramps, and someone carrying alarge package appreciates an automaticdoor push button.

INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEFACILITATION DURING WALK AUDIT

What to do

Why it’s more inclusive

Stick to the planned route and stops as
much as possible.

• Deviating from the planned route may
increase stress and confusion among
participants.

Ask the same questions you shared withparticipants in advance. Ask follow-up
questions to go deeper into participant
ideas and concerns.

• Asking questions participants
are prepared to answer supports
participation from people who needmore processing time.
• Asking follow-up questions lets
participants know you are hearing themand helps to clarify their input.

Provide worksheets, clipboards and pensto give participants the option of providing
written feedback. (Example worksheet
included in Appendix)• Some participants may prefer to write
down their thoughts rather than voice
them aloud.

Summarize what you heard participantssay, and let them know how their feedback
will be used. If a specific idea can’t beincorporated (for example, the idea
requires reconstructing the street butreconstruction is not an option in the nearterm), explain why.

• Summarizing helps participants feelheard and understood.

Tell participants how they can contact you
if they have further thoughts to share after
the meeting.

• Some participants may not have felt
comfortable sharing thoughts in a groupor may need more time to process.

• Knowing how their feedback will be usedbuilds trust with participants. Whenpeople provide input and feel it is notincluded in the outcome (plan, street
design, etc.) they may feel their time
was wasted and may be disinclined toparticipate again.

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEAPPENDIXCONNECTING WITH DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS
To include people with disabilities in your walk audit, it is important to connect directly withlocal disability service organizations and people with disabilities in your community and invite
their participation. Some statewide resources that work in local communities include eight
Centers for Independent Living across Minnesota, the Arc Minnesota, which has six regional
offices, and Special Olympics MN, which has thirteen areas across the state. Also consider
where people with disabilities live, work, and play in your communities. The Minnesota Council
on Disability may also be able to recommend people and organizations to connect with.
• Minnesota Centers for Independent Living• Arc Minnesota Regions• Special Olympics Minnesota Areas
CENTERING THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Including people with disabilities in the walk audit
Directly inviting and making your walk audit accessible to people with disabilities is the best
way to put disability at the center of your walk audit. People with disabilities can speak fromtheir own experiences, and highlight issues that they experience in other weather conditions orat other times of day.
Simulating aspects of disabilities for people without disabilities
Providing devices like wheelchairs and low-vision goggles and training participants on how to
use them safely and respectfully is another way to help participants without disabilities expand
their understanding of how the street is functioning. Consider consulting with a disability
services organization to prepare for this activity. The Minnesota Department of Health may
be able to assist in finding simulation devices available for lending.
Using simulation devices does not allow participants to fully understand what day-to-day life
is like for someone with a disability, but it can be an effective way for them to understandmore deeply the impacts of inaccessible street design. This can be especially impactful forengineers, planners, and others involved in the design of streets. For example, a sidewalk that23

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

feels a little uneven for someone walking can feel much more hazardous when that persontries to traverse it in a wheelchair. A faded crosswalk marking may be of little concern tosomeone without low-vision, but when that person puts on low-vision goggles, they discoverthat bright crosswalk markings are essential to finding their way across the street.
It is important to train participants on how to use the equipment safety and effectively. Each
person using a simulation device should have a spotter to avoid injury.
Wheelchairs
Show participants how to engage and disengage the parking brake, and how to stop thewheelchair. Someone using a wheelchair should stop by pushing their hands on the wheels of
the chair, not by putting their feet on the ground, as this could hurt the participant’s ankles.
If the meeting facilitator is unfamiliar with how to use a wheelchair, consult local disability
organizations or the Minnesota Department of Health and refer to resources available online:• How to Use a Wheelchair• A Guide to Using Your Manual Wheelchair Safely
The spotter should walk behind the person using the wheelchair, ready to help stop thewheelchair by grabbing the handles if the wheelchair user loses control or is in any danger.
Low Vision Goggles
Participants using low-vision goggles
should have a sighted guide who acts as aspotter, ensuring that the person wearing
the goggles does not run into objects, fall,or otherwise injure themselves. The spotter
should walk slightly in front of the person
wearing the goggles. The person using the
goggles should hold onto the forearm of the
spotter.
If the meeting facilitator is unfamiliar withhow to use a vision impairment goggles,
consult local disability organizations or the
Minnesota Department of Health and referto resources available online such as Guiding
the Blind or Visually Impaired: Techniques
for Sighted Guides.

24

Walk audit facilitators demonstrate how to spot properly
spot someone who is wearing low vision goggles.

INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEWRITING INCLUSIVE MEETING INVITATIONS
Less accessible meeting invitation example
You’re invited! Join us in designing a better walking environment for Minnesota City residents
and visitors. RSVP for our community walk audit for Minnesota City’s pedestrian plan byemailing staff@MinnesotaCity.gov.
Date: April 10, 2020
Time: 10:00am
Location: Public Works Building Room 250
More accessible meeting invitation example
You’re invited! Share your experience walking (including using a wheelchair or other mobility
device) in Minnesota City by participating in a community walk audit. Join us to evaluate
conditions for walking in Minnesota City and identify issues that impact your comfort andsafety. Your feedback will help shape Minnesota City’s pedestrian plan.
Date: April 10, 2020
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
Location: Public Library, Room 201, 100 Main Street, Minnesota City MN 55670.
RSVP by April 8, 2020 by emailing staff@MinnesotaCity.gov or calling XXX-XXXXXXX. When you RSVP, please let us know if there is anything we can do to support yourparticipation in the meeting, such as providing a sighted guide to accompany you during thewalk.
Additional details:
Below are more details on how to get to the meeting, what to expect at the meeting, andother ways to provide feedback for the Minnesota City Pedestrian Plan.
Getting to the meeting:
The library is on the Number 2 bus route, has a bike rack 50 feet from the front door on Main
Street, and has accessible parking spaces by the front door. There is a ramp leading from the
sidewalk to the front door. When you enter the lobby, turn right to go up the stairs or use
the elevator to reach the second floor. The meeting room is about 100 feet to the left of theelevators on the second floor.

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The library opens at 9am. Project staff will be standing in the lobby of the library starting at
9:30am and can help direct or guide you to the meeting room (Room 201). There will also be
signs posted directing you to the room. If you would like a staff member to meet you at thebus stop or by a vehicle, or if you have any trouble finding the meeting, please call XXX-XXXXXXX.
What to expect at the meeting:• Introduction to the [Minnesota City] Pedestrian Plan and how we will use your feedback to
inform the plan
• Introduction to the walk audit activity• Community walk audit (choose one option):» Virtual option: Stay in the meeting room, and use Google Streetview to virtually walkaround the downtown area with a small group» Short option: Walk a quarter mile (3 blocks) route around the downtown area with asmall group. (15-30 minutes; route with directions posted at www.MinnesotaCity.gov/
PedestrianPlan/WalkAudit)» Long option: Walk a mile route (12 blocks) around the downtown area with a small
group (45-60 minutes; route with directions posted at www.MinnesotaCity.gov/
PedestrianPlan/WalkAudit)» Share thoughts verbally on the walk, or write down your thoughts on the response
worksheet (available at www.MinnesotaCity.gov/PedestrianPlan/WalkAudit)
Other ways to share your ideas:• Go on the walk audit by yourself or with friends, and share your thoughts by calling or
emailing the project leader at 651-XXX-XXXX or staff@MinnesotaCity.gov. Walk audit
routes with directions are posted at www.MinnesotaCity.gov/PedestrianPlan/WalkAudit.
• Go on a self-guided virtual walk audit and share your ideas online. A link to the self-guided
virtual walk audit is posted at www.MinnesotaCity.gov/VirtualWalkAudit.
• Add your concerns to our online map (www.MinnesotaCity.gov/PedestrianPlan/Map)• Submit a comment to the Pedestrian Plan website (www.MinnesotaCity.gov/
PedestrianPlan/Comment)

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEPOTENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Proactively offering accommodations helps establish an inclusive environment and relieves
some of the stress associated with requesting accommodations.

Task

Accommodations to offer

Writing responses• Have a staff person take notes for theparticipant.
• Share questions in advance so participant
can prepare responses in advance.

Participating in a meeting with a hearing
impairment• Provide a sign language interpreter ora live transcriber. Information for stateagencies on contracting for these services
is available at https://mn.gov/mnit/aboutmnit/accessibility/contracts-asl-cart.jsp• Use a speaker or assistive listening device
to amplify sound. Libraries, schools, andlocal disability organizations may be able tolend assistive listening systems to you.
• Choose locations with minimal
background noise.
• Have the facilitator repeat questions fromparticipants.

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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Continued from previous page

Task

Accommodations to offer

Participating in a meeting with low vision• Provide all written materials in electronic
form in advance so the participant canview the information with a screen
reader. Guidance on creating accessible
documents is available at https://mn.gov/
mnit/about-mnit/accessibility/electronicdocuments/• Ask each speaker to identify themselves
when they begin speaking.
• State aloud any visually communicatedinformation (for example, if voting by ashow of hands, say out loud how many
hands are raised).
• Meet participant at the bus stop or at a
drop-off location and walk with them tothe meeting location.

Signing a form with low vision• Email the form ahead of time as a digital
version (e.g, Word document, PDF) so
the participant can view the information
with a screen reader and sign with anelectronic signature (https://acrobat.
adobe.com/us/en/sign/electronicsignatures.html).
• For printed documents, provide asignature card that shows the participant
where to sign (https://visionaware.org/
everyday-living/essential-skills/readingwriting-and-vision-loss/signing-yourname-and-handwriting/).

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDEFOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR ASSISTANCE
The Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Transportation are
working to expand opportunities for physical activity. Active transportation integrates physicalactivity into daily routines such as walking or biking to destinations including work, school, andtransit stops.
How our communities are planned, designed, and built influences how healthy we are.
People tend to be more active where they have convenient and safe places to do so. Public
infrastructure including sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, trails, bike parking, trees, lighting,benches, water fountains, and trash removal make a big difference.
Minnesota communities are working with the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership(SHIP) to promote active transportation to provide safe and convenient opportunities forphysical activity. Learn more about SHIP here.
Alta Planning + Design is a multimodal transportation firm that specializes in the planning,
design, and implementation of active transportation systems. Alta’s planners, designers, andengineers are available to assist communities with bicycle and pedestrian plans and street
design projects. You can reach Alta’s Minneapolis-St. Paul Office Leader, Colin Harris, atcolinharris@altaplanning.com.
This Inclusive Life is a firm dedicated to inclusive pedestrian planning and leading inclusive walkaudits. They have wheelchairs and low vision googles, and can help you plan your next inclusive
event. They are also available for technical assistance or to answer questions. This Inclusive Lifecan be reached at thisinclusivelife@gmail.com.

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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

EXAMPLE WALK AUDIT WORKSHEETA walk audit is an activity in which participants evaluate the walking environment andidentify issues that impact their comfort and safety. People do walk audits for a variety ofreasons, including:• A group of neighbors might do a walk audit of a street or area of their community to build
consensus around changes they want to advocate for.
• A city planner or engineer might conduct a walk audit with community members to informthe planning or design process for a street or area of the city.
• Students, teachers, and parents might do a walk audit of the area around a school as part ofa Safe Routes to School planning process.

Date:
Location:
Walk along the route shown on the map back of this worksheet. You can make notes on themap, and consider the following questions as you walk:
1. Do you have enough room to walk?

2. Is it easy to cross streets?

3. Do drivers behave safely?

4. Is the route pleasant?

5. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes: How comfortable would you feel walking the routewith a child? With someone who has low-vision? With someone using a wheelchair?

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INCLUSIVE WALK AUDIT FACILITATOR’S GUIDE

Directions for a quarter mile (approximately 3 blocks) walk audit:
Start: Library Entrance on Nicollet Mall
Walking on the west side of the street, head northeast on Nicollet Mall toward S 3rd St andwalk 673 ft.
Cross to the north side of S Washington Ave.
Stop to consider the questions on the worksheet.
Walking on the north side of S Washington Ave, walk west 269 ft.
Turn left at the light to cross to the south side of S Washington Ave.
Walk on the east side of Hennepin Ave for 656 ft until you reach the library entrance.
End: Library Entrance on Hennepin Ave

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