Episode Summary
This episode explores the essentials of safe and confident solo travel for individuals who are blind or living with low vision. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes back seasoned traveler and travel advisor Sue Slater, who brings more than 40 years of firsthand experience traveling independently around the world.
Kim and Sue break down domestic and international travel safety, including airport navigation, researching safe neighborhoods, using rideshare responsibly, preparing for currency differences, avoiding scams and pickpockets, and keeping your passport, cards, and devices secure. Sue also highlights essential apps—including Aira, Be My Eyes, Google Translate, CityMapper, Ally, and XE Currency—and walks through realistic scenarios, from navigating New Orleans solo to handling unexpected passport emergencies abroad.
Listeners will learn how to plan ahead, assess risks, stay connected with loved ones during travel, travel with a guide dog, and build confidence through preparation. Sue closes with actionable guidance: research everything, book ahead, use vetted companies, and travel on your own terms—because “the world is your oyster” when you’re prepared.
Contact Info
Guest – Sue Slater
• Email: cruzaway2001@yahoo.com
• Phone: 314-541-8400
• Additional resource: Rising Star Kulach (inclusive travel organization; contact Sue for details)
Aftersight (Feedback & Questions)
• Email: feedback@aftersight.org
• Phone: 720-712-8856
Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Sue Slater
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Intro & episode overview
01:20 — Meet Sue Slater
03:10 — Domestic solo travel basics
06:45 — Airport navigation & accessible tools
09:05 — Researching hotels and neighborhood safety
11:30 — Using Lyft/Uber safely when traveling alone
13:30 — International travel: currency & language prep
16:00 — Phone access, SIM cards & connectivity challenges
18:45 — Booking tours and transportation in advance
21:10 — Travel insurance essentials
23:00 — Protecting passports, cards & preventing theft
27:00 — Sue’s solo travel stories: New Orleans
29:30 — Sue’s solo travel stories: Dubai
31:20 — Emergencies abroad & contacting the embassy
33:00 — Staying connected with loved ones
35:00 — Traveling with a guide dog internationally
37:00 — Best apps for blind and low-vision travelers
40:15 — Final advice for new solo travelers
42:20 — How to contact Sue & inclusive travel groups
43:20 — Outro & listener questions
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Episode Summary
This episode explores the essentials of safe and confident solo travel for individuals who are blind or living with low vision. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes back seasoned traveler and travel advisor Sue Slater, who brings more than 40 years of firsthand experience traveling independently around the world.
Kim and Sue break down domestic and international travel safety, including airport navigation, researching safe neighborhoods, using rideshare responsibly, preparing for currency differences, avoiding scams and pickpockets, and keeping your passport, cards, and devices secure. Sue also highlights essential apps—including Aira, Be My Eyes, Google Translate, CityMapper, Ally, and XE Currency—and walks through realistic scenarios, from navigating New Orleans solo to handling unexpected passport emergencies abroad.
Listeners will learn how to plan ahead, assess risks, stay connected with loved ones during travel, travel with a guide dog, and build confidence through preparation. Sue closes with actionable guidance: research everything, book ahead, use vetted companies, and travel on your own terms—because “the world is your oyster” when you’re prepared.
Contact Info
Guest – Sue Slater
• Email: cruzaway2001@yahoo.com
• Phone: 314-541-8400
• Additional resource: Rising Star Kulach (inclusive travel organization; contact Sue for details)
Aftersight (Feedback & Questions)
• Email: feedback@aftersight.org
• Phone: 720-712-8856
Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Sue Slater
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Intro & episode overview
01:20 — Meet Sue Slater
03:10 — Domestic solo travel basics
06:45 — Airport navigation & accessible tools
09:05 — Researching hotels and neighborhood safety
11:30 — Using Lyft/Uber safely when traveling alone
13:30 — International travel: currency & language prep
16:00 — Phone access, SIM cards & connectivity challenges
18:45 — Booking tours and transportation in advance
21:10 — Travel insurance essentials
23:00 — Protecting passports, cards & preventing theft
27:00 — Sue’s solo travel stories: New Orleans
29:30 — Sue’s solo travel stories: Dubai
31:20 — Emergencies abroad & contacting the embassy
33:00 — Staying connected with loved ones
35:00 — Traveling with a guide dog internationally
37:00 — Best apps for blind and low-vision travelers
40:15 — Final advice for new solo travelers
42:20 — How to contact Sue & inclusive travel groups
43:20 — Outro & listener questions
S109: Persistence and Progress: Creating Accessible Spaces with Darcy McLean
Navigating Life with Vision Loss
44 minutes
6 months ago
S109: Persistence and Progress: Creating Accessible Spaces with Darcy McLean
In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow sits down with Darcy McLean, a Beyond Vision Skills Trainer at the Center for People with Disabilities (CPWD). Darcy shares her personal journey with low vision, the beginnings of her advocacy work, and how grassroots efforts have led to significant accessibility improvements at recreation centers and arts venues across the metro Denver area. Together, Kim and Darcy discuss how to start local advocacy efforts, overcome common challenges, build partnerships, and create change that benefits the broader community. This inspiring conversation emphasizes the importance of persistence, collaboration, and starting with activities you're passionate about.
Darcy also offers practical advice for listeners who want to advocate for more accessible recreational and community opportunities where they live—and how small actions can ripple outward to make a lasting difference.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to Navigating Life with Vision Loss
00:26 – Introducing Guest Darcy McLean
02:32 – Gardening with Low Vision: Spring Planting Tips
04:55 – Darcy’s Advocacy Journey: College and Early Experiences
07:20 – First Lessons in Self-Advocacy: Philosophy Class Story
09:26 – What is Grassroots Advocacy?
11:29 – Building Change Through Passion for Activities
12:30 – The Thornton Rec Center Story: How Change Started
14:49 – Expanding to Community Presentations and Trainings
16:53 – Collaboration: The Key to Lasting Accessibility
18:11 – Making Yoga Classes Inclusive for Low Vision
20:36 – How to Start Advocacy at Your Local Rec Center
23:03 – Planning and Expanding RecConnect
25:30 – Expanding to Arts Venues Like the Arvada Center
27:32 – How Advocacy Benefits Everyone
29:54 – Long-Term Impact and the Power of Persistence
32:20 – How to Get Involved with RecConnect
33:59 – Preparing to Advocate: Tips and Obstacles
36:13 – The Power of Persistence in Advocacy
38:27 – Advocating for Hearing and Vision Accommodations
40:38 – How Accessibility Benefits Entire Communities
42:46 – Darcy’s Contact Information and Final Thoughts
Contact Information
Email: darcy@cpwd.org
Phone: (720) 340-2088
General Aftersight Contact:
Email: contact@aftersight.org
Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Episode Summary
This episode explores the essentials of safe and confident solo travel for individuals who are blind or living with low vision. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes back seasoned traveler and travel advisor Sue Slater, who brings more than 40 years of firsthand experience traveling independently around the world.
Kim and Sue break down domestic and international travel safety, including airport navigation, researching safe neighborhoods, using rideshare responsibly, preparing for currency differences, avoiding scams and pickpockets, and keeping your passport, cards, and devices secure. Sue also highlights essential apps—including Aira, Be My Eyes, Google Translate, CityMapper, Ally, and XE Currency—and walks through realistic scenarios, from navigating New Orleans solo to handling unexpected passport emergencies abroad.
Listeners will learn how to plan ahead, assess risks, stay connected with loved ones during travel, travel with a guide dog, and build confidence through preparation. Sue closes with actionable guidance: research everything, book ahead, use vetted companies, and travel on your own terms—because “the world is your oyster” when you’re prepared.
Contact Info
Guest – Sue Slater
• Email: cruzaway2001@yahoo.com
• Phone: 314-541-8400
• Additional resource: Rising Star Kulach (inclusive travel organization; contact Sue for details)
Aftersight (Feedback & Questions)
• Email: feedback@aftersight.org
• Phone: 720-712-8856
Produced by Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Sue Slater
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Intro & episode overview
01:20 — Meet Sue Slater
03:10 — Domestic solo travel basics
06:45 — Airport navigation & accessible tools
09:05 — Researching hotels and neighborhood safety
11:30 — Using Lyft/Uber safely when traveling alone
13:30 — International travel: currency & language prep
16:00 — Phone access, SIM cards & connectivity challenges
18:45 — Booking tours and transportation in advance
21:10 — Travel insurance essentials
23:00 — Protecting passports, cards & preventing theft
27:00 — Sue’s solo travel stories: New Orleans
29:30 — Sue’s solo travel stories: Dubai
31:20 — Emergencies abroad & contacting the embassy
33:00 — Staying connected with loved ones
35:00 — Traveling with a guide dog internationally
37:00 — Best apps for blind and low-vision travelers
40:15 — Final advice for new solo travelers
42:20 — How to contact Sue & inclusive travel groups
43:20 — Outro & listener questions
