04/12/2025
Interacting, with blind traveller’s in airports and beyond. What we hope you know.
When people see those of us who are blind or have low vision moving confidently through airports, bus terminals, or subways, there’s often surprise. But we didn’t wake up one day knowing how to do this. It took training, practice, and a lot of problem-solving. Every tap of the cane or calm step with a guide dog represents hours of learning how to navigate a world not always built with us in mind.
You might see us walking through a terminal, tapping a white cane down the middle of the concourse. We’re listening, picking up on echoes, escalators, announcements, even the sound of people moving around us. Other times, we may shoreline along a wall or edge to locate a door or entrance. If it’s too loud or unclear, we might ask someone nearby for a quick direction. That’s not helplessness, it’s strategy. We know how to find answers, and we’ll ask when we need them.
Getting to the airport.
Many of us take ride shares like Uber or Lyft to get to the airport. Not everyone realizes that this can be challenging, especially for those of us who use guide dogs. Some drivers hesitate to let us in, often because they’ve had negative experiences with emotional support animals or don’t understand the difference between those and highly trained service animals. Emotional support animals offer comfort, but guide dogs are trained working partners. They help us navigate safely and independently, and refusing a ride based on the presence of a guide dog is not only wrong, it’s discriminatory.
Another challenge is that electric vehicles are often so quiet, we might not even hear them pull up. If you’re a driver picking us up, one of the most helpful things you can do is roll down your window and say our name so we can find your car through sound. Some drivers step out and open the door for us, which is always appreciated. Others simply greet us and let us get in independently, which also works just fine. We don’t expect extra treatment, we just want a smooth start to our trip.
When getting into the car, many of us fold up our white cane and place it in our lap. Others, especially those using a rigid cane, might lay it along the inside edge of the seat near the door and seatbelt. Just like any traveler, we find what works for us and get on our way.
In line at the airport.
If you ever find yourself in line at the airport and notice someone using a white cane or traveling with a guide dog, there are a few simple ways you can make things easier, without overstepping. One of the most helpful things you can do is ask, “Would you like me to let you know when I move forward?” In busy, loud terminals, it can be hard to hear subtle movement or feel when someone steps ahead, especially in lines that twist through stanchions.
Sometimes, we may gently tap the back of your shoe or suitcase with our cane, not to be invasive, but just to get a sense of spacing. If we know you’re okay with giving us a quick heads-up when it’s time to move, it helps us stay in step without having to guess.
You don’t need to tell us which direction the line is turning, often we can tell by listening to where your voice moves when you speak. We sometimes say we need talking signs, but in reality, your voice is the best tool you have. Just speaking naturally helps us orient ourselves. Even something as simple as jangly keys can serve as a sound marker if you’re not sure what to say. I’ve even told people, “If you jingle your keys or say something short, I’ll be able to follow that.” It turns a quiet, confusing space into one we can confidently move through.
Navigating assistance in the terminal.
There was a time when I asked for assistance at an airport, and someone showed up with a wheelchair. I said, “I’d just like to walk with someone,” but the assistant didn’t want to put the wheelchair away. He insisted I sit. I offered that my daughter could sit instead and I could walk behind, he said, “no It has to be you because you’re blind and you’re a liability.”
That word “liability” still echoes in my mind. I didn’t feel supported, I felt dismissed. What’s worse is that people with service dogs are sometimes forced into wheelchairs too. What’s the point of training a dog for travel and mobility if you’re not allowed to use your mobility? It doesn’t make sense.
If someone asks for assistance in an airport, it’s helpful to clarify whether they’re requesting a walking assist or a wheelchair assist. Those words matter. Not everyone who asks for help needs or wants to sit. If the person wants to walk, respect that. Either put the chair aside somewhere safe, or keep it with you while allowing the person to hold onto the side or back of the chair as you walk. Better yet, let the person who is blind take the lead. Sometimes we might say something like, “I’ll hold the wheelchair right here, and you can walk over there, and we’ll go together.” That small gesture gives us the dignity to move in the way that works best for us.
If the wheelchair isn’t needed at all, that’s okay too. Instead, offer clear alternatives: Would you like to take my elbow or shoulder? Would you like to walk beside me? Would you prefer verbal directions instead? Or simply say “ how would you like me to assist you? ‘
Just having the chair available is helpful, but being told “this is why I’m here, you have to sit” isn’t. Respect the request for walking assistance, and let us decide what makes sense in the moment.
Assisting traveller’s with guide dogs or white canes.
If someone with a guide dog asks for help, the best way to assist is to either walk in front so the dog can follow, or beside us while giving simple, clear directions like, “There’s a hallway to your left,” or “We’ll be turning right soon.” These cues allow us to give commands to the dog with confidence and keep things moving smoothly.
The same applies if someone is using a white cane and prefers to walk beside you rather than holding on. If you’re not saying anything while walking, we might not even hear you in a noisy terminal. One of the most helpful things is just having light conversation or simply speaking occasionally as we move, especially in crowded or echoey spaces. I’ve had some of the best, most unexpected conversations with strangers who offered to walk with me. Their presence and voice made a real difference.
When walking with someone who uses a white cane, please don’t touch or grab the cane, it’s our eyes on the ground. Independence grows from experience. Sometimes we may even say, “No thank you, I’m just trying to learn the layout today.” That’s not a rejection. That’s us practicing how to get around next time, using memory, mental mapping, and confidence.
Airport design and helpful technology.
One thing that would help tremendously is tactile maps of airports, raised-line maps that show how the terminals, wings, gates, and entrances connect. Being able to feel a layout with our fingers would give us a stronger sense of direction before we even start moving. The same way sighted people use big You Are Here signs, tactile maps would give us the tools to orient ourselves and explore with confidence.
We also use technology to navigate:
BlindSquare and Voice Vista tell us what’s around. Aira connects us to visual agents. Be My Eyes pairs us with volunteers. Seeing AI reads text, signs, and more.
When you’re seated next to us.
If you’re helping someone for the first time, just remember:
Speak directly to us, not to the people we are with. Always ask first before helping. Don’t touch our guide dogs or canes. Respect when we say “yes” and when we say “no.”
If you ever find yourself sitting next to someone who is blind or has an apparent disability, on a plane, train, or anywhere else, don’t be afraid to say “hello.”. After 2020, I’ve noticed people tend to keep to themselves more, but a simple introduction can go a long way.
When I used to travel often, I met so many amazing people just by sitting next to them on a flight. We’d talk, laugh, sometimes even grab lunch during layovers. I used to carry my slate and stylus and would braille out the alphabet for people. I’d create a secret code for them to decode and it would open up this whole conversation. I’ve even made custom Braille stickers for people’s phones. Not every blind traveler wants to interact on a flight and that’s okay, but moments like those reminded others that I’m just as real, curious, and creative as they are.
What’s even more surprising? Sometimes, months or even years later, I’d be walking through another airport or boarding a plane and someone would say, “Hey, we flew together once!” I never expected to be remembered, but they did. I think that’s because those moments meant something because they looked past the disability and saw me.
That’s really all we want. Respect not assumptions, Conversation not caution, Partnership not control and the space to be capable, even if we move through the world a little differently.
Danielle Frampton
Diverse Abilities Programs Inc.
DiverseAbilities.ca
Photo description
A woman standing in an airport, looking out a window as a plane ascends with the sunset in the background.
