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https://reasonstobecheerful.world/blind-and-sighted-travelers-adventures/>
"Mark Colman has swum with turtles in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, basked on
a beach with marine iguanas in the Galapagos Islands, bungee jumped in New
Zealand, braved the 166-story “edge walk” off the CN Tower in Toronto and skied
in the Austrian Alps.
That’s an impressive list of accomplishments for anybody — activities that
Colman himself, for many years, considered out of reach. “I had convinced
myself that I didn’t want to travel, because it wasn’t a possibility — I can’t
do it, so I won’t,” recalls Colman, who is based in County Durham, U.K.
Colman lost his sight at the age of 25 due to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic,
degenerative eye condition he was diagnosed with when he was seven. Until the
age of 36, he had never been overseas. Now, at 48, Colman has been on over 30
trips abroad, with outdoor adventure playing a big part in the destinations he
chooses.
What changed everything was a radio interview he heard in 2010 with Amar Latif,
who went blind at the age of 18 as a result of the same condition. At the age
of 30, in 2004, Latif founded Traveleyes, a company that runs tours catered to
blind and visually impaired travelers, but with a twist. The trips are also
marketed to sighted guests, who receive up to a 40 percent discount, in
exchange for accompanying one of their blind counterparts throughout each day’s
activities and meals, describing the details of what they’re seeing and doing.
This unique model convinced Colman that a tour aimed at blind people wouldn’t
be dumbed down or make him feel unnecessarily disabled.
“The way it’s set up works really well, because [the sighted guests] aren’t
carers. They’re on the same holiday as I am, and we’re sharing an experience,”
he says.
“We’re not there as a ‘service user’ and ‘employee’ — it’s more of an equal
relationship. I kind of veer away from the more traditional blindness
charities, because a lot of them are targeted at older people, as many people
lose their sight later in their life, so they have different needs.”
Traveleyes, he adds, is perfect for indulging his adventurous side, giving him
a break from his busy career managing digital services for Durham County
Council."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
