As an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) instructor, the question I hear most often is: “How do people travel without sight?” If you’ve wondered the same thing, this post is for you. Let’s dig into the questions people are most curious about.
Frequently Asked Questions on Traveling When Blind
Traveling without sight raises a lot of curiosity—and sometimes misconceptions. People often wonder how blind or low vision travelers know where they’re going, how they can travel safely, and how tools like canes and guide dogs really work. To clear up some of the most common questions, we’ve put together this FAQ that explains the skills, strategies, and tools that make independent travel possible every day.
1. Can a person who is blind or visually impaired really travel independently?
Absolutely! With the right training and tools, people who are blind or have low vision travel independently every day. This might mean walking around their neighborhood, commuting to work on public transportation, navigating airports, hiking trails, attending classes, or exploring new cities. Some use a white cane, others a guide dog, and many utilize technology, such as GPS apps. The skills and strategies that make it possible are well-established and widely used.
2. How does someone use a white cane for traveling?
The white cane is a tool for gathering information. Using various techniques, travelers use it to detect obstacles, locate drop-offs such as curbs or steps, maintain their orientation in a straight line, and gather clues about the walking surface. It’s both a safety tool and a way to “read” the environment through touch.
3. How does a person learn to use a white cane?
That’s where Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training comes in. An O&M specialist provides individualized lessons to teach cane skills, safe street crossing techniques, public transit navigation, and strategies for navigating unfamiliar environments. Training happens in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities…anywhere a person wants to go.
4. Why do some people with canes seem to “see just fine”?
Vision loss isn’t always all-or-nothing. Some people are totally blind, while others may have tunnel vision, central vision loss, blind spots, fluctuating vision, or night blindness. A person might read a book in small or large print but still need a cane to walk safely outside. Using a cane doesn’t always mean a person has no vision; it means they have limited vision and value safety and independence.
5. What about guide dogs? Don’t they replace the cane?
Not exactly. A guide dog avoids obstacles and helps determine when it’s safe to cross a street, but the handler decides where to go, gives commands to walk and turn, and ultimately decides when it’s safe to cross intersections. That’s why strong cane skills and O&M skills are required before someone trains with a dog. For example, a dog will help a person line up at a street crossing, but the individual will still need to stay oriented to their environment, understand street layouts and traffic patterns, and make the decision to cross. And when a dog is sick, resting, or retired, the person will rely on cane skills. Cane travel and dog guide travel work together as partners.
Interestingly, one benefit of traveling with a guide dog is that the dog detects low-lying obstacles such as tree branches, while a white cane can’t.
6. Why not just travel with a sighted friend or use rideshare services?
Independence matters. Just as sighted people value the ability to come and go freely, so do people who are blind or low vision. Cane skills make it possible to explore a new campus, commute to work, or run errands without depending on someone else’s schedule. Research suggests a correlation between strong travel skills and improved employment outcomes.
7. How does someone travel in bad weather?
Rain, snow, and ice add challenges, but cane users adapt. Techniques include choosing a different cane tip, slowing down, adjusting one’s grip, and using protective gear such as traction devices on shoes. Just as drivers adjust for the weather, travelers with vision loss do the same.
8. How does someone travel safely at night?
Reduced lighting can make things tricky for those with low vision, but strategies include using reflective clothing, bright flashlights, apps for orientation, and, of course, the white cane itself. The cane signals to drivers and pedestrians that the person may need extra space and time.
Additionally, the cane’s material is reflective. When headlights shine on the tool, visibility increases.
9. Are there laws for drivers who see someone with a white cane?
Yes. White Cane Laws vary by state, but generally, drivers must stop and yield the right of way when a person with a white cane or guide dog is crossing the street. These laws exist to protect blind and low vision travelers and to remind drivers to stay alert.
10. What is White Cane Day, and How Can I Support a Successful Celebration?
White Cane Safety Day is observed every year on October 15th. First established in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, it recognizes the white cane as both a tool of independence and a symbol of the civil rights of blind and low vision individuals. The day is about awareness, celebration, and advocacy.
Mississippi State University’s National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision offers the following guidance: How to Host a White Cane Awareness Day Celebration.
Final Thoughts
So, how do people travel without sight? With skill, practice, creativity, and the right tools. The white cane may be simple in design, but it represents something powerful: independence.
This White Cane Day, take a moment to notice the travelers around you who are navigating their worlds with skill and confidence. Better yet, share what you’ve learned; you’ll be helping to build understanding and inclusion for everyone.
Don’t hesitate to learn more about orientation and mobility; if it truly piques your interest, consider becoming an orientation and mobility specialist.
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