Travel Skills

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 28, 2025
​Travel is a vital part of independence and adult life. For students who are blind or visually impaired, learning to plan routes, access transportation, and travel safely is essential to building autonomy, confidence, and full participation in the community.

​Being a Non-Driver

Most students with visual impairments will not qualify for a traditional driver's license. While some may be eligible for bioptic driving, many will need to explore non-driving options. This reality can be emotional for some students, especially during adolescence when peers begin to drive.
Supportive Teaching Strategies:
  • Explore reasons why people with and without disabilities don’t drive, including visual functioning, finances, and lifestyle preferences.
  • Discuss emotional reactions to not driving. Some students may feel indifferent, while others may grieve the loss of this milestone. Provide space for reflection and support.
  • Redefine rites of passage: Help students identify alternate milestones, such as taking a solo bus ride, planning a trip using ride share, or visiting friends independently.

Accessing Transportation

Students must learn to independently arrange and navigate a variety of transportation options. This includes understanding local, regional, and even out-of-town transportation systems.
Skills to Teach:
  • Identify destinations the student can reach independently.
  • Understand and compare public transportation options such as:
    • Fixed-route buses
    • Paratransit services
    • Rideshares (e.g., Uber, Lyft)
    • Volunteer driver programs
  • Discuss planning rides, including how to schedule, confirm, direct, and, if necessary, decline or fire a driver.
  • Understand transportation pros and cons, including cost, timing, convenience, and access.
  • Practice asking for assistance, directions, or a ride in a confident and respectful manner.
  • Learn to use transportation apps with screen reader or low vision accessibility, such as:
    • Transit
    • Moovit
    • Uber / Lyft
    • Local paratransit booking apps

Bioptic Driving & Low Vision Considerations

In some U.S. states, individuals with low vision can qualify for a restricted license using bioptic telescopes. Eligibility depends on:
  • Meeting unaided and aided visual acuity and visual field standards
  • Completing required behind-the-wheel training with bioptics
  • State laws (some states do not permit bioptic driving at all)
Topics to Explore:
  • Legal requirements and training availability in the student’s state
  • Differences in driving experience with low vision vs. typical vision
  • Impact of self-imposed and legal driving restrictions (e.g., no night driving, weather limitations)

Budgeting for Transportation

Transportation—whether through public transit or rideshare—is not free. Students should understand how to plan and budget for travel expenses.
Teaching Tips:
  • Compare transportation options and costs (e.g., monthly bus pass vs. Uber).
  • Explore reduced fare programs for people with disabilities (through local transit agencies).
  • Have students:
    • Create weekly and monthly transportation budgets
    • Estimate costs for short and long trips
    • Weigh transportation options based on time, accessibility, and affordability

Planning and Following Routes

The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialist will take the lead in teaching route travel. Still, students should learn to participate in planning trips and creating directions independently.
Skills to Teach:
  • Use GPS apps, maps, or tactile map alternatives
  • Create and follow step-by-step directions
  • Estimate time, distance, and cost for travel
  • Use landmarks, environmental cues, and cardinal directions to build orientation

​Problem-Solving for Travel Challenges

Students must be prepared to deal with unexpected situations such as late rides, missed stops, or confusing environments.
Help Students Learn To:
  • Plan for wait times (e.g., bring headphones, book, or homework)
  • Be assertive in managing delayed transportation or miscommunications
  • Brainstorm strategies to reduce travel frustrations (such as using a travel companion or ride-tracking apps)
  • Identify skills they still need to strengthen through a self-evaluation
  • Describe and demonstrate expected public behaviors while in transit (e.g., keeping belongings close, being courteous to drivers, not blocking aisles)

Video Resources

Navigating Airports

Airports can be overwhelming for anyone—and especially for travelers with visual impairments.
Franki Napolitano’s blog post “Using Airports with Sensory Impairments” offers tips for navigating busy terminals. Though based in the UK, many suggestions apply internationally.
Key Skills:
  • Requesting airport assistance services (wheelchair, escort, or guide dog support)
  • Understanding TSA security procedures
  • Navigating terminal layouts, boarding, baggage claim, etc.

Cruises

IGLU Cruise features a guide by Lisa Bonet if you are you considering going on a cruise with a guide dog. Lisa provides a list of tips to help you prepare for and enjoy your cruise. Tips include: 
  • Preparing documentation for international travel
  • Locating service animal relief areas on ships
  • Navigating excursions and shipboard etiquette
Teaching students how to travel independently, safely, and confidently is one of the most empowering skills you can offer. Whether walking to a local store, using a bus, or planning international travel with a guide dog, your support as a TVI or O&M specialist helps lay the foundation for lifelong independence.

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