Travel tips for someone with vision impairment

Have you looked into after hours tours at certain places? For instance, an after hours tour at a place like Stonehenge would give your wife the opportunity to touch the stones and experience them that way.

Also, have you checked out http://www.accessibletourism.org ?

They have a nice section on accessibility in the UK:
http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.united_kingdom_visitors_information

I really don't understand the extent of your wife's impairment, so my advice might not be that helpful. I've traveled to Europe several times since my dad, now 90 years old, became legally blind due to macular degeneration. He insists on doing everything that we would do if he weren't vision-impaired. I have to read him the menus and help him with the bills. He always carries a card for our hotel, so if he were to get lost, he could hand the card to somebody who could call a cab. I walk with him to the restroom. Otherwise his visual problems really haven't impacted our trips all that much....If she's still adjusting to a sudden loss of vision, this might impact her travels more than it does my dad's who lost his vision over a period of years. Also my dad had done a lot of traveling before he became legally blind.

My mother is considered low vision with severe myopia and the beginnings of macular degeneration. We found her a minocular at an REI which she uses in everyday life and on trips to see the sights. It works for her. She subsequently found another minocular at Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco with higher magnification. Your wife might benefit from a minocular or a binocular. Also, I have found that museums sometimes provide materials in large print. Hope this helps.

Greetings

You should be able to find things like large print brochures and many museums have 'touchable' exhibits. Many crossings have bumps to indicate the edge of the crossing area and beeps to indicate when it's safe (though not always working).

The one caution would be that since her vision is limited she needs to be VERY careful about traffic since it's on the other side of the road (and thus coming from the opposite direction you expect). Also, for you, it's good to know that the light turns yellow before it turns red AND before it turns green. So don't start crossing on a yellow light as is often done in the US!

Kate

I was also thinking a small monocular would be a good idea. Check out Binocular.com (might be binoculars.com), they have a whole section of monoculars in various strengths, sizes and qualities that are easy to carry and reasonably priced.

We went today and found a good quality monocular. I feel silly I hadn't thought of this before. She has been playing with since she got it - I think she has a new best friend! Thanks for the help!!!