Information and inspiration from around the web
Vision
News from the Travelability Community
From California and British Columbia to Germany and around the globe, the TravelAbility community is making waves – and headlines.
Visit California | Ventura County Legislator Pushing to Make State Parks More Accessible to Those with Disabilities
Destinations International | Beyond Boundaries: Stories of Resilience and Inclusion in Accessible Travel
Destination BC | Invictus Games 2025: Why British Columbia is becoming a Hub for Accessible Winter Adventure
Shaping the Future of Accessible Tourism at ITB Berlin 2025
Lane County, Oregon | Accessibility Projects Work to Make Mount Pisgah Arboretum More Welcoming
Wheel the World | Accessible Travel Tips from Our Community
Incredible Memories Travel, Royal Caribbean, and Easy Access Travel | Accessible Travel Revisited: Readers Have Questions, Suggestions
Morgan’s Studio Launches with New Inclusion Unlimited Series
WAYMO | Ride For Two: Our Eyes-free Adventure
(Watch the full adventure on YouTube)
Travel and Leisure Shares how Blind Travelers See the World in Ways Beyond the Visual
Travel and Leisure Shares how Blind Travelers See the World in Ways Beyond the Visual
Why do blind people travel when they can never “see the world?” Travel and Leisure takes a deep dive into that question, uncovering how travel is so much more than meets the eye. Perhaps the sighted traveler is missing out on more than the blind traveler who travels deeper into the culture, stories, and people that really differentiate one place from another. This article is worth a read for all travelers who are ready to see the world more clearly.
What if You Could Touch a Sunset?
By Ted Tahquechi of Blind Travels
Last year, Blind Travels partnered with Redline Contemporary Art center of Denver and The Andy Warhol Foundation for visual art to develop a process that takes photographs and extracts the luminosity values and textures, then creates a 3d printable tactile print. This is not only great for the blind and low vision community, but has also been well received by the colorblind community and those who are on the autism scale, for their touch and audio features. The project was launched at the National Federation of the Blind national convention last year to rave reviews.
Disabled Art is now working with galleries, museums and even the VA. Their goal is to make art accessible to those who can’t see and to try to shift the mentality for accessible art to one that is considered in the creation of an exhibition rather than as an afterthought. Each piece has the traditionally framed photograph, the tactile (touchable) print, and a plaque with a braille label and tactile scannable QR code. Scanning the QR code gives an audio description of the original photo, then walks the viewer through the features of the tactile print. This gives the viewer all the context they need for what they are feeling, and delivers a true multi sensory experience.
Find out more at https://www.disabledart.com/.
Innovation of the Month: Be My Eyes – Changing the Game for Visual Assistance
Most great ideas start with a problem. Be My Eyes was no different. Founded by a Danish furniture craftsman who was losing his vision, the app was born out of a simple yet powerful idea: create a seamless way for blind and low-vision individuals to get visual assistance in real time. What started as a volunteer-driven network has now evolved into a game-changing accessibility tool that serves both consumers and businesses alike.
A Solution for Everyday Challenges
For consumers, Be My Eyes is a lifeline for just about any visual challenge. Need to find the right can of soup in the pantry? Check. Navigating an airport to catch a flight? Done. Searching for a lost parakeet in the house? Believe it or not, that’s happened too. With live volunteers and AI-powered assistance, the app provides immediate, reliable support for a wide range of visual needs.
Beyond the everyday, Be My Eyes also offers a company directory, connecting users directly to accessible customer support lines. That means blind and low-vision consumers can get real help—whether it’s booking a hotel, managing an airline ticket, or troubleshooting a product—without the usual back-and-forth frustration.
A Game-Changer for Businesses
Be My Eyes isn’t just making life easier for consumers—it’s also rewriting the script for corporate customer service. For businesses, the impact is undeniable: call handle times reduced by up to 68%, customer satisfaction scores skyrocketing, and AI-powered automation resolving issues with an impressive level of accuracy. In a world where accessibility is often an afterthought, this platform gives companies a competitive edge by providing real, meaningful support to an underserved market.
The Future of Accessibility in Business
The potential for brands to integrate accessible, seamless support is enormous. And the best part? It’s scalable.
For enterprise customers, pricing starts at $12,000 per year and goes up to over $100,000 for global brands looking to lead the way in accessibility. As more businesses wake up to the value of serving blind and low-vision consumers—not just as a compliance checkbox, but as a key demographic—Be My Eyes is proving that innovation in accessibility isn’t just good ethics; it’s good business.
Watch the InnovateAble pitch here.
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