The blind traveler, who toured the world, shared her shocking experience in airports
Hayley Kennedy, a visually impaired traveler from London, has visited all the countries recognized by the United Nations, making her the first person with disabilities to achieve this feat. She also shared her experiences regarding how airports accommodate individuals with visual impairments, highlighting some shocking encounters she faced during her journeys.
According to Hayley Kennedy, she encountered numerous challenges and mistreatments from airports and airlines. She recounted instances where she was yelled at, denied access to disabled queues, and faced disbelief from airport staff regarding her visual impairment, as reported by The Mirror.
Hayley explained that her vision problems have been ongoing and are progressively worsening. At 40 years old, she experiences double vision and blurred sight, which motivated her to explore the world despite her limitations. Over the past few years, she has successfully visited 193 countries, fulfilling her dream of experiencing the world firsthand. However, she emphasized that the most difficult aspect of her travels was navigating through airports.
"I was yelled at, my boarding pass was thrown at me, they took my bag and instructed me to find it upon landing," Hayley recounted.
In addition, Hayley Kennedy urged airports to implement certain inclusive changes that would cater to the needs of blind individuals, namely:
- Sending emails with information on where to obtain assistance in the terminal.
- Surveying each passenger about their needs for assistance.
- Providing wheelchairs only to those who genuinely require them.
- Refraining from taking away a blind person's luggage to prevent them from feeling anxious about locating it.
- Avoiding getting upset with blind individuals when they request assistance.
- Recognizing that even small changes can make a significant difference to a person with a disability.
- Refraining from telling people with disabilities that they are not disabled simply because they do not use a wheelchair.