Co-PI: Niloufar Shirani, Ph.D. 

Study Title: Evaluation of Aira Pilot Program in Connecticut 

Sponsor: CT Department of Transportation 

 

 

You are invited to participate in a research study to share your experiences with public transportation in Connecticut and challenges faced during travel. We are conducting this research on behalf of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), the Department of Aging and Disability Services-Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB), and Aira. CTDOT and BESB are interested in learning about the mobility and independence of individuals with blindness or low vision (BLV) in Connecticut. The results of this survey may be used to guide future efforts to provide resources to assist BLV individuals with safe and secure travel. The results of this survey will also be used to evaluate Aira services. This form includes information about the study, and contact information for the researchers if you have any questions. 

 

 

 

We are conducting this study to learn more about the travel patterns and challenges experienced by the BLV community. We are interested in learning about the frequency, purpose, and modes of travel, as well as the challenges experienced while using public transportation, paratransit, etc. 

 

 

 

If you agree to take part in this study, you will be asked to complete a confidential survey on the next screen. Survey questions will cover topics related to your level of blindness, travel techniques you utilize , challenges experienced in your personal mobility, use of travel aid devices/services, and demographic information. The survey questions are in multiple-choice and short answer form. To maintain your confidentiality, you should not write anything that would identify you personally in the short answer questions. The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. There are no time restrictions – feel free to take as long as you need to read through this consent form and complete the survey. 

 

 

 

There are no anticipated risks to you for participating in the study. All information you share in this survey will be kept confidential. It will not be associated with any identifying information (name, address, etc.). The only inconvenience is the time required to complete the survey. 

 

 

 

By participating in this study, you will gain free access to Aira services during the pilot period (estimated October 2021 – March 2023), valued at approximately $500. Your participation in the study will also benefit the state of Connecticut, CTDOT, and BESB through better understanding of the travel patterns and opinions of the BLV community. The results of this study have the potential to help shape future provisions and resource allocation related to the mobility of the BLV community in Connecticut. 

 

 

Will I receive payment for participation? Are there costs to participate? 

 

There are no costs to participate, and you will not be paid to be in this study. By participating in this study, you will not be charged for use of the Aira service. For the study period, this service is valued at approximately $500. 

 

 

 

The following procedures will be used to protect the confidentiality of your data. The researchers will keep all study records (including any codes to your data) on a secure server in a location with restricted access. Consent forms will be stored separately from other data. All electronic files (e.g., database, spreadsheet, etc.) containing participant information will be password protected. Any computer hosting such files will also have password protection to prevent access by unauthorized users and baseline hardening measures in place. Only the members of the research staff will have access to the passwords. At the conclusion of this study, the researchers will share the results with CTDOT, BESB, and Aira, and may publish their findings. Study results will be presented in summary format only, and you will not be identified in any publications or presentations associated with this research. We will do our best to protect the confidentiality of the information we gather as part of the survey from you, but we cannot guarantee 100% confidentiality. Your confidentiality will be maintained to the degree permitted by the technology used. Specifically, no guarantees can be made regarding the interception of data sent via the Internet by any third parties. You should also know that the UConn Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Office of Research Compliance may inspect study records as part of its auditing program, but these reviews will only focus on the researchers and not on your responses or involvement. The IRB is a group of people who review research studies to protect the rights and welfare of research participants. 

 

 

 

Yes. You do not have to participate this study if you do not want to. If you participate in the study, but later change your mind, you may drop out at any time. There are no penalties or consequences of any kind if you decide that you do not want to participate. You are not required to answer any questions that you do not want to. 

 

 

 

We will be happy to answer any question you have about this study. If you have questions about this study, or if you have a research-related problem, you may contact the principal investigator, Mohammad Razaur Rahman Shaon, Ph.D. (605-690-0810 or mrr.shaon@uconn.edu), the Co-PI, Niloufar Shirani, Ph.D. (256-797-2244 or niloufar.shirani@uconn.edu) or the key personnel, Andrew Tucker, Ph.D. (860-486-9069 or andrew.tucker@uconn.edu). If you have any questions concerning your rights as a research participant, you may contact the University of Connecticut Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 860-486-8802.