The other day my friend was walking home from work using his white cane. All of a sudden he stepped into a hole, dropped 8 feet, and submerged into mud and water covering him all the way. It was the middle of the winter, the water was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. He survived, due to..
How to Introduce Yourself in a Meeting
Introduction Over the last few years, you may have noticed that many meetings and conference presentations start by people describing themselves. The idea is to make the meeting as inclusive for visually impaired people as possible. But is it for visually impaired people only? Does it make a meeting more inclusive? Is it mandatory? There..
Trip report to Scotland with a guide dog
I recently read a post on a mailing list from Eric Caron, who explained the difficulties of traveling with a guide dog to Scotland. He wrote about the days of travel arrangements, paperwork, and expenses. I asked Eric if he would be willing to share his story with you. I have to say I had..
What’s in a zoo for blind people?
A zoo is generally a visual experience, and by default there are many things blind people cannot enjoy. However, there are many ways zoos can be made an enjoyable experience for blind people. These are not specific to blind people, rather, things which can be enjoyed to all visitors. (more…)
The Visual Bucket List Foundation
The Visual Bucket List Foundation helps children who are losing their vision to create visual memories they can remember after they completely go blind. There are certain eye diseases which predictably result in the complete loss of vision. The foundation set out to provide children with such diseases to experience things which otherwise cannot be..
Blindfolds Are Not the Same as Being Blind
Often when discussing the experience of being blind, I find that different simulations are implemented to explain what it feels to be blind. Probably the most common is to put on a blindfold. While such exercises can have many different values, the only thing they don’t simulate is what it means to be blind. However,..
Preparing for Life When You Are Going Blind
Introduction If you or any of your relatives are going blind, it will probably be one of the biggest life events. It is hard to avoid trauma, but it is important to know that people who go blind can continue doing what they were doing with modifications, and it will also create new opportunities. Going..
Airport Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation
In September 2022 the Airports Council International launched the Airport Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation program. This accreditation is the first of its kind, and can be awarded to ACI member airports, currently in 183 countries. The accreditation demonstrates a level of accessibility and provides continuous improvement. The accreditation is valid for three years. The process is..
Specialized or mainstream vacations for blind people
There are some vacation experiences which are designed specifically for blind people, keeping all requirements and accessibility needs in mind. This is where people don’t have to worry if their accessibility needs will be met for the entire duration of their stay. However, only a few of such experiences exist. Opportunities are practically endless when..
How Blind People Experience Museums: Tips and Insights
Generally, most museums are not regarded as beneficial for blind people, particularly because often objects are behind glass. But it doesn’t have to be that way, and museums can be a fascinating experience. However, most exhibits will need some kind of adaptation to make them enjoyable for blind people. (more…)