Sacramento – a City that Welcomes and Includes People with Vision Loss
A field trip to the Sacramento International Airport, a spot on Good Day Sacramento and a partnership on a Sacramento Theatre Company production. These are just three examples of how the Sacramento community is engaging with and including people who are blind or have low vision.
Darrell and Jackie shop at the counter of a store at the Sacramento airport.
Society for the Blind staff and students were invited to meet with airport staff and TSA agents last month to help improve the travel experience for people with vision loss and blindness. Staff and students spent more than four hours at the airport reviewing baggage check, security, airport concessions and gate check-in with airport personnel. Everyone felt it was a productive and learning experience. Airport staff asked Society for the Blind to come back to continue this important work.
Debbie Pendleton with Good Day Sacramento’s Molly Riehl and Scott
Good Day Sacramento was onsite at Society for the Blind on January 31st to film a couple of live segments showing how seniors with vison loss learn how to prepare food. Led by Society instructor Deb Pendleton and student-mentor Dan O’Connor, the segment highlighted the skills and techniques older adults acquire in Society’s Senior IMPACT Project classes so they can continue to live independently.
Shane Snyder visits with staff and actors at the Sacramento Theatre Company.
To kick off February, Society for the Blind is partnering with the Sacramento Theatre Company on their production of “Wait Until Dark,” which features a lead character who is blind. The actors in the production spent an afternoon at Society for the Blind learning about blindness skills, assistive technology, and the many ways people with vision loss adapt and live active and engaged lives. They also discussed how to make the audio-assisted performances more enjoyable for patrons with vision loss in the future.
We are so proud of the Sacramento community for its inclusion of people with vision loss and blindness. Every year, more than 5,000 people receive services at Society for the Blind – these are our family members, friends and neighbors. They love traveling, cooking and going to the theatre just like everyone else.
We know there are more opportunities to improve accessibility and inclusion. Society for the Blind is here to partner with businesses and organizations on creative solutions. Working together – and including and involving people living with vision loss in making places and experiences accessible – improves the quality of life for all of us.
Thank you, Sacramento, for assisting people with vision loss to discover, develop and achieve their full potential.