[Travelandtourism] Discusssion Blind people can travel anywhere with the right planning

Thu Aug 1 17:48:30 UTC 2013

Thank you for that, Jeff.

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama

From: jeff at traveldelsol.com
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Subject: RE: [Travelandtourism] Discusssion Blind people can travel anywhere with the right planning
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2013 10:46:08 -0700

Dear Cheryl, and other Travelers, sighted or blind:
My wife is blind since 2010 and has been low vision since birth. Since 2010 we have gone on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing, Hurterguten Farries round trip from Bergen Norway and as a low visionn person to 67 different countries and Islands and on over 45 cruises. She has always been allowed to sit anywhere she wants, now except in the exit row (we don't mind). Truly blind travelers can travel anywhere, but common sense and giving in to YOUR own comfort level is KEY!
Sincerely,

Jeff KeckleyTravel Del Sol
6501 N. Mesa, Suite D
El Paso, Texas 79912
Cell Phone 915-203-2999
Home 915-581-4123
Work 915-845-0046
Fax: 915-760-6550
e-mail jeff at traveldelsol.com (don't use the other one often)  

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: RE: [Travelandtourism] Discusssion Blind people can travel

anywhere with the right planning

From: cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>

Date: Thu, August 01, 2013 10:16 am

To: travelandtourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>

   Oh one other thing. This person also said this division is failing, whatever that means.

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama

> From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2013 13:14:22 -0400
> Subject: [Travelandtourism] Discusssion Blind people can travel anywhere with the right planning
> 
> Hello all:
> I am writing this post in reference to start a topic of discussion with everyone.
> Someone from this list, and I will keep the person's name off of it because it didn't turn out very nice, and I said thank you, and left it like that, but this is a good discussion point for this division.
> Someone sent me an e-mail a few days about about trips for a blind person. 
> So I asked more questions and gave the advise that blind people can go anywhere with the right planning, yes I even ask about someones mobility as well, in a way, that is not condescending, but I would do that for anyone traveling. Also from experience, when I booked someone to Israel last year, told me that they traveled the world all by themselves and only needed from time to time verbal directions. But this was not the case at all, the person was traveling by themselves, and as soon as they got to Israel wanted to be hand-holding the whole time with the tour operator.
> So, I ask respectfully. I say that blind people can travel anywhere in the world, and I ased who, what, where, when and why (why because it might be a family reunion, an anniversary and I can set up some extras at the point of where they are going, same with birthdays, etc.)
> The response I got today was basically not what I expected. I am not going to post the whole e-mail, but was told that this person was looking for professional advice and not that blind people can go anywhere in travel and that I was rude and condescending, and this person says that the blind are more rude then the sighted. And that they are a fellow NFB person and I should know better. 
> I should have offered things like accessible museums, etc.
> But how can one offer these things when one doesn't know where the person wants to go. They have these things available all over the world and can be arranged for anyone, anytime.
> Case in point, our trip to the National Parks in October that this group is doing, also we are starting to plan for next year as well. 
> We also went to Walt Disney World as a division.
> I have also taken the NFB of New Jersey back in April for a fundraiser to Bermuda, we had accessible things for us. Been myself to St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, and other places in the world.
> Now my question to all of you finally, and this is for discussion. If the person who wrote the issues with this wants to chime in as well.
> Now as people who are blind as myself, and this can possibly help others like myself or Vice President Shackelford, as well as Anahit LaBarre, who are all travel professionals help you more. We know the questions to ask, the who, what, when, where and whys of the dialogue to help people, and I have been doing this since 2009.
> How do you feel this should have gone down?
> I am not going to post the original e-mails. For respect of the other person involved.
> A few rules on this list and on all NFBnet.org lists.
> No rudeness, no cursing, etc.
> Please respect one another as well.
> Sincerely,
> Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel and Tourism631-236-5138www.nfbtravel.orginfo at nfbtravel.org
> 
> 
> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in Independent Travel!
> Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind child. Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama 
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