TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Vision

10 Things You Didn’t Know About the White Canes Used by Blind People

by

Blind man holding a white cane.

Tap tap tap. That’s the sound of independence.

That’s the sound of people with visual impairments around the United States – and all over the world – using a white cane to confidently navigate to work, around their neighborhoods or to wherever their plans take them.

There’s no better day to celebrate the power of the white cane than October 15 – White Cane Safety Day. It’s the day set aside by the federal government to recognize the independence and skill of people who use white canes. It’s also a reminder that laws in all 50 states require drivers to yield the right of way to people with white canes, even when they’re not on a crosswalk.

In honor of White Cane Safety Day, take a look at 10 quirky facts about the white cane in the article from the Perkins School for the Blind.

A Talking Menu for People with Visual Disabilities Debuts in Mill Valley, CA

by

A prototype for a “talking menu” will be unveiled at the Bungalow 44 restaurant in Mill Valley, California. Designed to improve access to the menu for those who are blind or have low vision, it was designed and developed by Chris Lona of CL designs, who presented his concept of a talking website at the 2019 TravelAbility Summit Launch Pad Pitch fest in San Francisco. The talking menu is the first innovation that will be invited to be part of an “incubator” where innovative assistive technology and products will receive mentorship and guidance from a team of investors, prominent travel industry suppliers and professional marketing consultants.

Screenshot of restaurant menu on website with audio files to play the content.

“Since Covid-19 cleanliness protocols were in place during 2020 when many restaurants deployed ‘touchless’ menus by snapping a QR code photo from their smart phone, many diners and restaurants are very familiar with the process,” remarked Jake Steinman, of TravelAbility. “I personally shared this link to this menu to mangers of five restaurants ranging from upscale fine dining to a breakfast and lunch diner who immediately grasped the concept and saw benefits that I hadn’t thought about.” 

The following summarizes the benefits they saw:

  • It provides an alternative to braille menus as 90% of people who are blind don’t read braille.
  • Due to soft dinner lighting, many menus are difficult to read for seniors
  • Talking menu can be accessed from their website to support blind people

Other benefits include availability in four other languages–French, Spanish, Portuguese and German—three different voices and the fact that it communicates a commitment to inclusivity to the local community.

The cost range is between $500-750 for an average menu and $250-400 per additional language.

To see the Talking Menu in action, check out Bungalow 44’s Autumn 2021 menu.

For more information contact: clona@cldesignonline.com

Visit Mesa Launches Aira, Guided Visual Interpretation for Visitors & Residents

by

Visit Mesa logo.

New App-Based Resource One of Several Tech Tools to Aid Travelers with Enhanced Mobility in Mesa, Arizona

Oct. 11, 2021 – MESA, Ariz. – As part of Visit Mesa’s on-going mission to ensure Mesa, Ariz. is regarded as one of the nation’s most accessible travel destinations they are launching a partnership with Aira, an on-demand visual interpretation service. The launch of the service will be made available to visitors to Mesa, as well as residents, on Oct. 15, National Blind Americans Equality Day.

Aira is a new accessibility technology that serves people who are blind or have low vision. Prior to arrival, visitors can download the Aira app to their smart phone and get access to a trained Aira agent who can assist with trip planning. While in Mesa’s city limits, visitors can access the agent to guide them throughout public buildings, attractions, restaurants, hotels and more. Customers of Aira are referred to as Explorers and this instant access to visual information at the touch of a button will enhance everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence.

“We are thrilled to welcome Visit Mesa as an Aira Access partner. Their commitment to providing an accessible, independent visitor experience for the blind and low vision community is another example of their mission to provide never-ending inspiration and discovery,” said Troy Otillio, CEO of Aira.

In Mesa, this service is one of several initiatives the destination marketing organization is implementing to ensure all visitors are welcomed and travel to Mesa is enjoyable.

“Visit Mesa is on a journey to becoming a recognized leader in travel accessibility,” said Alison Brooks, director of destination experience and advocacy at Visit Mesa. “We are putting travel inclusion at the forefront of all we are doing in Mesa and this new service shares an important message to this customer base that their needs and requirements to better experience and explore our destination will be supported. We want every visitor, and ultimately resident of Mesa, to explore our city with ease and comfort.”

Aira’s visual interpretation services are currently available in all Starbucks and Target stores nationwide. The free service for Mesa, Arizona will be available starting Friday, Oct. 15. As part of Visit Mesa’s commitment to accessibility, any guest living or visiting Mesa who is blind or has low vision can use the Aira service while located within Mesa city limits. The service outside of Mesa’s borders is complimentary for up to five minutes and then fees apply. Both iOS and Android phones are supported.

“We want residents and visitors alike to know that Mesa is committed to inclusivity and accessibility, and the availability of Aira is another step in the right direction,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles. “Visit Mesa has become a leader in our region, in putting tools like Aira to work to create greater ease for both guests and residents.”

Visit Mesa helped establish the Mesa Regional Foundation for Accessibility, Diversity & Inclusion to enhance and implement equity, diversity and inclusion for youth and adults within the Mesa community. The Foundation will support programs that expand upon accessibility throughout Mesa with a special emphasis on technology. Additional programs supported by Visit Mesa include the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program and the on-going efforts surrounding Mesa, Arizona’s designation as an Autism Certified City.

###

Watch this video to see how Aira visual interpretation services impact the community:

Learn more about Visit Mesa and their mission to promote the value and vitality of Mesa’s visitor economy to create a better community at www.VisitMesa.com.

New Lease on Color: Denver Art Museum Brings Color to Life for Colorblind Visitors

by

Two men looking at art in a museum while wearing glasses that correct colorblindness.
Photo courtesy Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.

Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art has debuted a new accessibility feature – EnChroma glasses – that bring the vibrant colors of paintings and other art exhibits to life for colorblind people.

EnChroma glasses, specially engineered for people with a color vision deficiency, compensate for colorblindness and reveal colors that the wearer has never seen before. The museum received four pairs of the glasses, which retail for between $269 and $429, as a donation from the manufacturer.

Brad Ingles, the museum’s memberships and community partnerships manager, raised the idea. In speaking about his own experiences with colorblindness in art museums, Ingles reflected that “Every single person was experiencing what the artist was talking about, except for me.” Now, with the EnChroma glasses, he and museum visitors can experience artwork as the artist intended.

OUR TAKE: EnChroma glasses are an exciting new accessibility tool that can bring a wider range of colors to colorblind people, and art museums are the perfect place to debut. As more museums make EnChroma glasses available to museum goers, travelers can look forward to more vibrant and colorful experiences!

To read more about this exciting development, read the full article in Hyperallergic.

Blind Ambition: Helen Keller Joins Mattel’s Inspiring Women Line

by

Helen Keller Barbie doll.

Popular children’s toy brand Mattel recently announced a new addition to its Inspiring Women line of Barbie brand dolls: Helen Keller.

The company says Helen Keller is an inspiring role model for children, and her lifetime achievements make her worthy of being honored alongside the other women who are memorialized in the Inspiring Women line of dolls. Those women include Dr. Maya Angelou, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, Ella Fitzgerald, Katherine Johnson, Freda Kahlo, Billie Jean King, Florence Nightingale, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Sally Ride.

Mattel partnered with the National Federation of the Blind to ensure accuracy and accessibility for the blind and low vision community.

To read more about the new Helen Keller Barbie doll, read this article on the ArkLaTex homepage.