Travel Accessibility for Individuals with Vision Loss

This course explores the accessibility of travel for individuals who are blind or have low vision. It outlines interventions to increase travel accessibility for these communities through the use of universal design, assistive technology, and increased programming. Through this course, students will also recognize the importance of advocacy in occupational therapy. By the end of the presentation, students should be able to discuss the importance of advocating for universal design principles that increase travel accessibility for the low vision or blind populations and identify the need for increased travel accessibility for individuals with low vision or blindness. The presentation consists of a needs assessment, literature review, individualized learning objectives, and three artifacts. The first artifact is a handout of nineteen interventions. These interventions include tactile wayfinding surface indicators, consistency of design, service animal relief area design, signage and information display height, high color contrast, non-slip and colored tape for surface changes, colored duct tape for bags, good lighting with no glare, audio-tactile maps, tactile maps, text maps, audio cation or information alerts, the RoomMate by Adi Access, help point kiosks and information desks, Aira, easy accessibility of information on websites, mobile apps, travel practice opportunities, and tactile art and audio tours. For each intervention, the handout provides a description of that intervention, evidence of the intervention’s efficacy found in research literature, examples of the intervention being used, consumer thoughts on the intervention, recommended implementation of the intervention based on each travel industry, the cost of the intervention, and the benefits of the intervention for the consumer, the company, and the rest of the population. The second artifact is a presentation that includes information about vision loss, why travel accessibility for this population needs to be addressed, how universal design is a great solution, how occupational therapy fits into this solution, and an abbreviated list of the nineteen interventions highlighted in the handout that goes with the presentation. This artifact was used as a resource when communicating with, advocating to, and educating travel organizations. The third artifact is a pamphlet for individuals with disabilities to better know their rights under the ACAA part 382 and to be introduced to additional resources and tips to make travel easier for this population. The pamphlet includes a QR code linked to the Open Doors website for additional information on travel accessibility.