Why should you make the physical environment inclusive for blind people

I often hear the argument that making something accessible for blind people is not worth it, because there aren’t many blind people using it. My argument usually is that if it was accessible, you would have more blind people taking advantage of it. It is even more difficult when we don’t just make something accessible by fulfilling the minimum necessary requirement, but making the environment truly inclusive to blind people, where they don’t only get information, but they can enjoy something just like sighted people do. Often, this can cost much more time and money.

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Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability, an inclusive conference

Last month I attended the Leadership Exchange in Art and Disability (LEAD) conference in Boston, which was the most inclusive conference I have ever been to. And that’s to say a lot, because in the last 25 years, I have attended at least 40 conferences which primarily had an audience of people with disabilities, plus many other ones, and I have not experienced anything like this before.

The conference is organized by the Kennedy Center, and it is about cultural access solutions, allowing participants to learn, network and be inspired.

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Why do drive-through ATMs have braille?

Drive-through ATMs with Braille buttons have long perplexed many, giving rise to questions, jokes, and urban legends. After all, blind individuals don’t drive, so why would there be Braille on machines explicitly designed for drivers? As it turns out, the presence of Braille is based on a combination of practical, legal, and manufacturing reasons. This article delves into the explanations behind this seemingly contradictory design choice.

ATM machine

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First blind man to complete Race Across America

Dave Wilkinson, a blind 30-time marathon runner and Ironman, is planning nothing less in 2024 but to join the Race Across America bicycle race event. He will ride on a tandem bike with Jim Trout who has done this race several times before. They will ride 3000 miles in 12 days, across 12 states.

Dave and his tandem captain jim riding on a road

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Should I add braille to my business card?

In an increasingly inclusive business landscape, the question of whether to add braille to business cards has become relevant for many professionals. While a significant portion of the global population won’t directly benefit from braille business cards, their importance extends beyond the visually impaired community. As businesses strive to stand out, resonate more deeply with their audience, and showcase corporate responsibility, braille cards serve as a symbol of commitment to inclusivity. But for those who read braille, it is not just a useful tool, but a lasting impression on you and your company.

The back of Tom Babinszki's business card with braille
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Accessible Ohio, Making Ohio Destinations More Inclusive to All

Recently I have come across a program in Ohio, which may fundamentally change what it means to create accessible travel and tourism in a state. Accessible Ohio has the potential to impact accessible experiences for people with disabilities by educating and consulting with companies who would like to make their services more accessible and inclusive. Of course, such services existed before, but here the difference is that it is taken to the state level, and actually funds accessibility consultations. As I understand, such an initiative is unique in the United States.

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CheckPlease, a service to make restaurant payments accessible

Recently I came across a solution that could not only revolutionize restaurant payments, but would make it much more accessible to blind people as well. It is called CheckPlease. It is a simple app which allows you to pick a restaurant, order from the menu, and pay using your phone.

The end result, waiters will have to spend less time at your table, you can take your time to order, you don’t have to wait for your bill, and the restaurant can turn the tables much faster.

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ChatGPT helps blind people in travel planning

I was curious if ChatGPT has any ways to help with travel planning that I couldn’t do with any other tools, so I put it to the test. I tried a few things where I had challenges previously, and overall it was able to help me in two specific ways: finding more efficient ways to get to places, and finding more accessible activities.

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I almost lost my friend to a preventable accident

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 nothing more than luck, when he touched a thick tube on which he could pull himself out of the freezing water. People saw the accident on the street, and called the fire department, and they rescued him in a half hour.

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Describing yourself during meetings

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 are many more questions for which there are no guidelines, and often get awkward to ask. I’ll try to answer some of these questions.

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