PREPAREDNESS IS THE KEY : FACILITATING TRAVEL FOR THE BLIND AND VISULALLY IMPAIRED

Here are five things that families with blind and visually impaired travelers on board should know.

THE FIRST THING TO CONSIDER IS LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

• Perhaps you are visiting relatives, or you have been dreaming of a beautiful week at the beach all year. If you have not already selected a destination, think about places that will ignite the other four senses. For a blind and visually impaired person, the blissful touch of a sea breeze, invigorating sounds of street music, or aroma of authentic cuisine could turn a good vacation into an unforgettable one.
• Also consider the navigability of a destination. Big cities like New York often are on grid systems, which makes finding your way a bit easier. While small villages have fewer accessibility features, they may be less intimidating for families with small children.

INQUIRE ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES — AND USE THEM

• If traveling by train, air, or bus before your trip, contact the transportation company, so that they can provide special assistance for your outbound and inbound trips. Make certain that you have your SVAN number as part of your airline reservation, if you are traveling with a service animal.
• For sightseeing and museum tours, always call ahead to ask about accommodations for people with visual impairments. Often, tours have verbal descriptions of sights, or the opportunity for blind and visually impaired tourists to touch landmarks or artifacts, that are usually off-limits.

ENSURE YOUR TRANSIT SITUATION IS SQUARED AWAY

• When it comes to using transit as a blind and visually impaired person, the more you know, the better. Try and familiarize yourself and your family with the layout of the airport or station in advance–like where the restrooms or baggage claim sections are.
• If you are traveling on a bus or train, be aware of the stops, so that you can easily plan when it is time to depart. Having a printed copy of your ticket confirmations, in addition to on your phone also, is advised. iPhone features like "Voice Over" can help with this.

TRAVEL LIGHT, BUT BRING TOOLS THAT CAN HELP

• A backpack allows visually impaired travelers to keep their hands free, so consider using one as a carry-on. Blind and visually impaired individuals who use a long white cane as a mobility device at home, should also do so on vacations.
• If you are traveling with a little one who is visually impaired, games can help keep them occupied, while in transit or during downtime. We sell a variety of games, including Braille playing cards, tactile Tic Tac Toe, and beeping foam balls on LighthouseShop.org.

IF YOUR CHILD IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INCLUDE THEM IN PLANNING.

• Planning trips should be a family affair. When children know where they are going and what to expect, they are more likely to enjoy the vacation. One fun activity you can do with kids, is create a simple, tactile map of the travel plan that your children can trace across with their fingers. This will help them track the distance traveled and learn new skills like mapping.
• In addition to getting kids involved in planning, empower them to advocate for themselves during group activities. For example, if you are at a restaurant and find that the waitstaff is asking you to speak for your blind child, they should speak up and ask that they speak directly to them.

Remember, passion for travel and experiencing other cultures does not require eyesight. When traveling with or as a blind or visually impaired person, the above tips, can help make the trip fun and safe.•

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Virginia A. Jacko is the President and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, where she provides equitable access to education, blindness prevention programs, and vision rehabilitation training to nearly 25,000 people annually, from blind babies to low vision seniors and their families.