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
In this heartfelt episode, Kim Wardlow is joined by longtime advocate and educator Melissa Green, who shares her deeply personal healthcare journey as a blind individual navigating a system often unprepared for true accessibility. Melissa talks candidly about a life-threatening overdose due to a pharmacist’s error, fighting stigma in hospitals, and how she advocates for herself and others in medical spaces. From Script Talk and accessible pharmacy tools to setting expectations with caregivers and doctors, Melissa’s wisdom is practical, passionate, and born from experience.
Listeners will walk away with strategies for advocating in healthcare settings, understanding their rights, building a support team, and utilizing assistive technology. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned pro, this conversation will inspire courage and reinforce the value of persistence, education, and self-worth.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to Navigating Life with Vision Loss
00:25 – Intro to Melissa Green & Today’s Topic
01:35 – Melissa’s Background and NFB Involvement
02:48 – A Life-Threatening Overdose & Systemic Failures
07:17 – What is Script Talk and How It Can Help
09:19 – Advocating for Yourself in Medical Settings
11:47 – Navigating Medical Assumptions & Caregiver Support
16:29 – The Role of Caregivers and Communication
18:36 – Educating Doctors and Dealing with Multiple Providers
21:00 – Building “Team You” – Creating a Support System
23:07 – Legal Complaints, Litigation, and ADA Questions
25:31 – Innovations: Script Talk, Accessible Pharmacy, & Health Fairs
28:34 – Assistive Tech Tools: Be My Eyes, Seeing AI, and More
30:56 – In-Home Care Support and Local Programs
33:22 – Final Advice for Healthcare Advocacy
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