Tonight, I had the wonderful experience of guiding a group of adults & students who were blind through the Brisbane airport to catch their interstate flights. I’m pleased to say that every interaction with a Brisbane airport staff member was truly fantastic and could not be faulted. From the moment of arrival – the parking inspector – check in and boarding pass staff – buying food from the food court – boarding with assistance staff – and departure. I’m proud that my home city airport, Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) is a warm and welcoming, accommodating and accessible airport with staff that care and deliver unconditional assistance to travellers who require extra support. Below this blog post explores some of the difficulties that people with visual impairments may face when traveling by air.
Air travel can be a daunting experience for anyone, but for individuals who are blind, navigating their way around an airport can present unique challenges. Firstly, one of the biggest challenges for travellers who are blind or have low vision, is finding their way around the airport. Airports can be large, busy and noisy places, making it difficult to navigate by sound alone. Next time you’re at an airport stop and have a listen to the noise level. There’s audio speaker distractions such as flight numbers being called, passengers being called, emergency exit details, suspicious information alert details, people laughing and chattering as they meet, etc. Wayfinding is needed for travellators, escalators, and huge open spaces. Whereas, on the other hand, there are challenging narrow paths & mazes to walk through to reach boarding pass assistance, security, or the plane itself. To assist, many airports provide tactile maps, audio directions or trained staff to assist passengers who are blind, but these services are not always available or easily accessible.
Another challenge is checking in and passing through security. Travellers who are blind or have low vision may need additional assistance in completing the check-in process and navigating the security screening. Security personnel may also need to provide additional guidance, particularly when it comes to removing shoes, belts, and other items for inspection. Accessing gate numbers to board the plane can be a highly visual task and information may only be available on the arrivals and departures screens which are not viewable to anyone with low vision or who is blind. Assistance from friends or airport staff may be required to let the traveller know where they need to board.
Once on the plane, blind passengers may struggle with finding their seats and stowing their luggage in the overhead compartments. They may also need assistance in understanding the safety instructions provided by the flight attendants, particularly those that are visual in nature, such as the location of emergency exits. During the flight, travellers who are blind may face challenges in accessing the bathroom, moving around the cabin, and communicating with the flight attendants. They may also need assistance in navigating the in-flight entertainment system and accessing food and drink.
Finally, when the flight lands, passengers who are blind or have low vision may need assistance in disembarking the plane, collecting their luggage, and finding their way to their next destination. Phew! That is a lot to navigate! For a traveller who is blind, the airport environment requires explicit teaching from an O&M specialist over a period of months if they wish to navigate their way through the airport independently. And of course, each airport has a completely different layout so it may only be their local city airport they might take the time to master independently.
Despite the challenges, individuals who are blind or have low vision are able to travel by air with the right support and accommodations in place. It is important for airports and airlines to provide accessible services to ensure that all passengers can travel safely and comfortably. With proper planning and communication, travellers with a visual impairment can enjoy the many benefits of air travel and explore new destinations around the world.
Jax @Tactilecollective
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