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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 blind itself is such a huge topic that it would deserve an entire book. This post, however, is more intended to be a roadmap for somebody starting on their research on how to get prepared.
Previously I discussed that for blind people sometimes the only way to experience something is to get on the road and touch it. But there is a difficulty with this. While sighted people can take photos and videos, for us it maybe a chance of a lifetime and the only thing we can do is to keep the experience in our memory.
I always tell people that being blind is expensive and time-consuming. Just by the nature of things, the expense parts can be cut back to some extent, but the time consuming will always be a thing. I could provide numerous examples, but for now, let’s concentrate on some of those which are related to travel in some way. It is not just a complaint session, at the end I’ll explain what would make it less taxing on people.
Asking for and accepting help is one of the most controversial topics for blind people. Each person has their views and reasons, thus there isn’t one good way, only a preferred way. In this post, I will try to review some of the arguments and give some advice on how to offer help.
I attended a conference in Las Vegas which was one of the most typical experiences from the accessibility point of view. Most of the challenges were familiar, and usually I wouldn’t even think about them. However, this time I took note on everything that maybe a challenge, and I will take you through it. I will explain the accessibility problem, and will provide a solution if it is available.
Hi, my name is Baldwin. My human, Tom, asked me to talk a bit about the work of a guide dog. I’m glad he did, because what does he know about being a dog anyway?
A little bit about me, I was born in New York state, at Guiding Eyes for the Blind. That’s where thousands of guide dogs are born. After a couple of months, I moved to Virginia to be with a puppy raiser family. I spent a year with them, they taught me how to behave. Tom says they did good. They loved me so much, they even write for my birthday every year.
These days with electronic check-in and electronic keys in theory one just has to walk upstairs and go to bed, which is great once I know my room, but there are a few things to do for the first time.
It is always full of excitement and anticipation, ready to do something new when I arrive somewhere. Here I will explain the airport experience, but the procedure is relatively similar to a train station or a bus terminal.
On October 6, 1964 President Johnson signed the white cane safety day proclamation. In 2011, President Obama named it as blind Americans equality day. Since 1964, this day is celebrated each year on October 15th. Over the years, several countries also adopted this celebration.
Even though travel can be more challenging and complicated for people without vision, I would argue that it is even more necessary than for those who can see. In many instances blind people have no choice but to physically be present to have similar experience to sighted people. This presence can only be achieved when the entire process of the trip is fully inclusive and accessible. If one piece is missing, the trip doesn’t make sense, or is simply not possible.