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AMA of Central PA Networking Social
Whether you are a college student or a C-level executive, if you are given the opportunity to network with others in your field through a professional organization, always take it. The art of networking with other professionals in your field has a lifetime of benefits. I had the opportunity to do just this at the Second Annual AMA of Central Pennsylvania Marketing Networking Social.
The American Marketing Association of central Pennsylvania hosted the Second Annual Marketing Networking Social at Shippensburg University. The reception took place on Tuesday, February 20 from 4 to 6 PM. This event is an opportunity for myself and other students from local universities to connect with marketing professionals, recruiters from various employers, and each other.
The Event
The event was hosted by the Shippensburg University Career Center in partnership with the American Marketing Association Chapter of Central Pennsylvania. The chapter invited faculty from the collegiate board, as well as other marketing professionals from within the chapter to attend the event.
The event kicked off with a discussion between Senior Director of Shippensburg Career Center, Victoria Kerr, and students, about the importance of networking and best practices. After that, we had the chance to practice these before being introduced to the alumni and being dismissed to network for the evening. I got to meet some incredible people, including faculty from the schools in attendance, and some recruiters from great potential employers for post graduation. I also got to explore the beautiful Shippensburg University campus. What a treat!
Along with the great conversation and connections made throughout the evening, the event included light hors d’oeuvres and sweets, courtesy of Shippensburg Career Center. They were delicious and quite popular!
The Benefits of Networking
Several students, myself included, from Messiah University Marketing Club attended the event, alongside club advisor and Professor of Marketing, Dr. David Hagenbuch. Dr. Hagenbuch challenged us to think about why we were attending an event such as this. He also asked us questions to get our minds going before arriving at the event. Dr. Hagenbuch discussed his thoughts on the benefits of networking for college students in the marketing field.
“Students who attend networking events have the potential of finding their next job, whether it’s an internship or a career position. But even if that doesn’t happen, networking events are great opportunities for enhancing communication and interpersonal skills, as well as just meeting interesting people.” -Dr. David Hagenbuch,
As a senior in college, I have had the opportunity to attend many networking events for different organizations. I have never regretted attending one of these events. Even though it’s a long night, I always leave having had valuable conversation with many people. My one piece of advice to any readers wondering about next steps after networking event is to connect on LinkedIn after the event as a follow up.
For my disabled readers interested in networking, I know it can be awkward, but don’t be afraid to go to these events. In order to succeed in life as a disabled woman in the marketing industry, I have learned that I have to push past the stereotypical awkwardness that others tend to apply to me and learn to be my authentic self. Those who want to have a truly diverse team or circle around them will open their doors to differently able workers. They will also prioritize accessibility and accommodation, that you may thrive as a member of the team.
The American Marketing Association of Central Pennsylvania
Messiah has been preparing Marketing Club members for our joining AMA of Central Pennsylvania for a while. Being able to have a professional organization like this recognize our campus as a chapter is a big deal, especially for a small Christian school. I have definitely enjoyed the benefits of this membership. Being a member of the American Marketing Association of Central Pennsylvania allows myself and other Messiah students to attend networking events like this one, connect with professionals in the field, and much more.
“…I’ve been on the board for less than a year. Still, during that time I’ve met and gotten to work with many of the areas top marketing professionals. It’s exciting to be around so many talented people who share many of the same passions I do. I’ve also been able to leverage the connections I’m making for the benefit of my students.” – Dr. David Hagenbuch
The American Marketing Association of Central Pennsylvania hopes to host more events of this kind in the near future. For more information about AMA of central Pennsylvania, follow their Instagram, LinkedIn, or check their website. Both Shippensburg University and Messiah University have American Marketing Association chapters which will host events in the coming months.
Dr. Hagenbuch has always pushed myself and my classmates to go out of our comfort zone and network, in order that we might build professional. Beyond this, he has also taught us in many ways how to use our marketing knowledge in a Christian and ethical manner. One of the ways he has done this is through, using his blog, Mindful Marketing Throughout each of the many classes, he teaches in the marketing program, we are always being challenged to discern, whether or not a marketing practice or principal is mindful or not. As a member of the AMA, I believe that the marketing program here at Messiah will be able to truly blossom under his leadership, as we are led to learn and connect with others, both inside and outside of our university and discipline.
Where Will I Go?
In the words of Disney Princess Moana, “There’s just no telling how far I’ll go “. As I stated above, I am a senior and preparing to graduate in May 2024. As I prepare and begin my job search, I do not know what my future holds. However, I do know this my experience here at Messiah as a marketer, and a student has been beyond impactful. I have gained certifications, connections, and experiences that will impact and last a lifetime. No matter your disability, you can always network, and you can always learn. The marketing world is always changing; therefore, we must always learn and understand the changes, in order that we may move ahead of the trends to delight our customers, and whatever sense that role is fulfilled.
Through my curriculum, over the course of my four years studying marketing, I have gained invaluable leadership knowledge, which has helped me overcome challenges, both in life and in the classroom. The AMA has both professional and collegiate chapters all over the country for professionals to stay in touch and involved in this ever-changing industry. For my readers who are not currently or planning to be marketing professionals, I encourage you to seek out the professional organizations within your discipline. This will give you a group of people from across the country to serve as mentors and role models. It also gives you the opportunity to help someone who may be in a position that is similar to where you came from. Even before you graduate, spend time connecting with some people who are experienced in your field, so that you can begin learning and understanding the field you were going into.
As usual, stay tuned for more! I’ve got some very exciting things coming your way very shortly! Don’t forget to like this post, Sherrick, with your friends, and commen
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A powerful marketing partnership: artificial intelligence and the human mind
How AI could help Market to visually challenged consumers
As someone who is legally blind, and can only read large print, I struggle to read social media captions, small copy on advertisements, or pretty much any little print, unless I can make it bigger. However, AI might be changing that. Along with screenreaders, apps that utilize artificial intelligence to scan documents, or other items are changing how blind people interact with the world around them.
Image displays a human skull with colorful swirls replacing the brain. A white tipped cane is placed just below the neckline, with the words artificial intelligence below. Unfortunately, these powerful apps, which utilize AI to improve the lives of the disabled, may come at a cost. Many companies and ill willed developers are using AI to trick vulnerable groups of people, as stated below. AI is a double-edged sword, and is unfortunately unable to be charted, due to the speed and abilities of machine learning. I spoke with dr. David Hagenbuch, Professor of Marketing at Messiah University, and author of the blog Mindful Marketing, and Keith Quesenberry, also a Professor of Marketing at Messiah and author of the blog Post Control Marketing, about their thoughts on where AI is headed with regards to marketing and the disabled consumer.
“As often happens, laws and ethical considerations often lag behind new technologies. AI’s rapid pace of development and machine learning have multiplied concerns about this unprecedented tech” “Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations with less-than-pure motives already are using AI to replicate familiar voices and images to gain people’s trust and trick them. Individuals who have vision or hearing impairments are likely to be even more susceptible to such scams. Hopefully, there soon will be new technologies and regulations to protect everyone from illicit uses of AI; however, protections are particularly important for people who have disabilities.” -Hagenbuch
As legally blind individual, I do not utilize screen readers, although I highly appreciate it when an app offers to read me an advertisement, PDF, or any set of text. Apps like these include Speechify, Seeing AI, and others. Microsoft even features a read aloud function, where it will read the document back to you. in the marketing world, however, options like this are scarce for the disabled, which requires us to use a screenreader, or other clunky technologies, which may mess with the way we are used to using our devices. Even though AI is risky, implementing a read aloud function on social media, where someone could click an advertisement or a button near it, and the device would read back the copy within advertisement, along with describing it, it would be highly helpful. It may also increase interactions between disabled consumers and various companies.
“Recently I read about Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest marketing communications companies in the world, launching a new product called CoreAI. One of the benefits of the technology is the people creating the ads are able to use AI insights to create personalized content at scale. I envision this as AI tech as being able to customize content to the needs of individuals with various forms of impairments.” -Quesenberry
Professor Quisenberry brings up a very good point: making AI customizable would be a game changer for the blind consumer, and would also put power into employees hands when it comes to making content fully accessible for all abilities.
Allowing AI into the world of marketing has many implications, especially for the disabled employee and consumer. Both ends of the spectrum create a window where AI can either benefit or destroy the experience and productivity of the user.
A prime example of this is the fact that many social medias have added a right with AI button. This might be convenient for the sighted user, but individuals using screen readers could quite often tap this button without wanting to utilize AI. This then creates the issue of the user having to redo the work, which could sometimes be hours worth. Options to improve this experience include using a separate keyboard on iOS devices, and others for AI features within social media, using a voice command to trigger the AI feature for screen, reader, users, and others. Social media companies such as meta-and LinkedIn need to be very careful when placing AI writing tools.
Despite these challenges, AI in the marketing world is truly an incredible tool with unchecked potential for the disabled consumer. From alternate text in photos to a shortcut when replying to a sales email, the possibilities are endless.
As a sight impaired marketer myself, I understand the importance of proper accessibility with each and every campaign, post, commercial, and advertisement. One example of a commercial set which I cannot enjoy is the most recent set of “He Gets Us” commercials. Due to the nonexistent verbal communication, visually challenged individuals like myself cannot enjoy the commercials. There are also social media campaigns that I cannot enjoy because of inaccessibility when it comes to the print on photo advertisements that are attached. Although I don’t use a screen reader, having the text written out as copy alongside the image allows screen readers to pick up what the advertisement is selling. The thing I struggle most with, however, are paper advertisements. Although I can take a picture with my phone, if I am simply walking by, I cannot see them, and don’t have time to snap a picture. I also struggle with the same thing when it comes to fast food restaurant menus. However, thanks to modern technology, I have mostly overcome that problem, and I look forward to seeing how AI will impact the way we interact with menus and advertisements in general.
As time goes on, marketers like myself will have to learn and adapt to the new technology and formats of AI that are thrown our way. As any good marketer knows, you are either ahead of and on top of the trend, or you’re too late. This pressure goes for working with AI as well. I look forward to learning and understanding more about AI as my professional career progresses.
For those asking whether or not our marketing jobs are safe with AI, my answer is yes. Both of the professors quoted above have worked and researched this question, and both have come to a similar conclusion. This doesn’t mean marketers can sit back though…
That said, I have one question for you… How will AI make your marketing more accessible?
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Travel talk: six do’s and don’ts of communication in public transportation
You show up to the bus station early enough to grab a drink from the vending machine, hit the restroom, and hop on the bus. Unfortunately, to your dismay, it is next to impossible to know where your bus is, what door to be at, or if the bus is even coming! I have experienced this many times while traveling with Greyhound, and seldom is there a customer service agent to speak to. Here are five tips for successful communication experiences within a train, bus, or any other transportation center.
1. Make sure the monitors displaying current inbound/outbound trips is high-level, and the print is large enough to see from at least 10 feet away.
2. Always have a customer service rep in each waiting area, in order to prevent miscommunications or missed departures. This also creates a friendly atmosphere, and a helping hand for the disabled.
3. when an inbound, bus or train arrives, never expect a disabled person to know where to go. Always have a staff member to direct or assist them in proper ways. This includes using tactics, such as cited guide for blind/low vision, or something as simple as grabbing their suitcase so they can use the handrail. Also make sure your transportation center has proper wheelchair technology to assist handicap, travelers.
4 when a train, bus, or flight is delayed, make sure the app is kept up-to-date and travelers are notified in a timely manner. I’ve had many experiences with Greyhound and others where I don’t find out about the delay until I’m at the station and it’s too late to go back. errors like this result in higher refund rates for travel companies, more disgruntled, customers, and traffic buildup at Transportation stations. Things like this can easily be avoided by sending timely alerts through the travel platform and through text messaging.
5. Create a sense of safety and comfort in your transportation center. This can be done by placing a law enforcement officer, or staff member in each area, and limiting homeless activity within these areas. Allowing homeless to use bus stations can create a dangerous environment for those who are disabled, or traveling alone. In most cases, the homeless are harmless, but in others, trouble may arise.
6. make sure communication is consistent throughout the entire station. This includes simple things like having I staff member in charge of notifying passengers, when and where their train/bus has arrived. This is a common customer at airport and should be so at every other type of transportation center
I hope this is beneficial to you, and gives an understanding of best practices that would make travel as a disabled person, and a person in general, much easier. Have any others? Drop them in the comments! I would love to hear from you!
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Facing the unknown: overcoming heartbreak and forging ahead to the future
In mid September, I introduced you all to the best thing that had ever happened to me… A guide dog. Lester and I made an amazing team, but unfortunately, not all guide, dog teams make it out of their first month, or even make it out of training…
Lester was an incredible guide. She knew where I sat in each classroom and how to get to my next class. She was amazing.
However, on September 20, 2023, Lester had to be returned to the foundation. It was not my fault and not her fault… Just that some characteristics she possessed made guiding difficult for her… I didn’t want to accept this, but it’s true… My safety must come first, and if a dog stops guiding to visit other dogs, then she is not meant to be a guide dog. Again, not her fault, just nature.
My little leader, giving me a farewell lick as I sob through a goodbye The training these dogs undergo is rigorous, as stated in my previous post about guide dog work. However, the dogs reveal a different side of themselves once they are with their handler for an extended amount of time. The behaviors Lester displayed are perfectly normal and typical dogs… Just not desirable in a guide dog… The handler’s safety is of top concern when the foundation comes to visit several weeks after training. My field rep came on September 19, planning to observe and help Lester and I. However, after viewing some undesirable behaviors, and working her in harness, the field rep alongside the foundation deemed it best for Lester to find a career in a different line of service, or as a loving pet to her puppy raisers.
Despite understanding the harsh reality that my safety was a priority, my heart was truly broken… It took me several days to be able to talk about her without crying… I still tear up when I see pictures or have to explain the process of separation, etc.… She will forever and always be my first guide dog. We had many great routes together, along with having our challenges. Every team has their challenges, but certain dogs just aren’t cut out for this rigorous and stressful job.
Those of you who got to spend any time with Lester, know that she was one of the most loving and playful dogs around. She loved to climb you if you sat on the floor, or wiggle all over with a toy in her mouth when she got to play. She will be deeply missed among myself, my friends, and the Messiah campus community.
However, I am a priority on the waitlist and hope to hear from the foundation very soon.
For now, I am continuing to work towards graduation in May, the workforce, and beyond! God is so good, and he is working in the waiting, despite the pain and grief.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”
This verse is deep reassurance that, despite my pain and grief, God is in this situation, and he will eventually reveal himself in a beautiful way that I was never expecting.
Lester’s empty bed and bone… Her happy place… I cannot wait to see how he reveals himself. For now, I wait, trust, work, and pray. My heart and prayers go with Lester, that she may find a happy life with a loving family, no matter what service she provides.
My amazing family decided to make a spur of the moment trip to visit and comfort me the moment they heard about our separation. I could not be more grateful for their support during this time of immense grief and pain.
We had an amazing girls night, getting a manicure, painting, pottery, and having a delicious Japanese hibachi style dinner. We topped the night off with a fun game of Scrabble before heading off to bed.
Myself, my mom, and my sister, painting pottery I could not be more grateful for the support of my family and the surrounding community as I take time to grieve and process our separation. I am hopeful that I will be matched with a new partner very soon, but until then, forward I go, Into the Unknown, waiting on the Lord and a new companion.
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Introducing my four-legged leader: lady Lester
For any of my readers who are current guide dog users, or know anything about the process, you know it is not a quick turnaround. I sent my application to the Guide Dog Foundation in July 2021. I received my acceptance to the program in November 2021, when I was attending school at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Along with submitting the online application, I also had to submit several rounds of video, including myself crossing streets, walking up and down stairs, and many other basic movements. Due to my change in schools, I needed to resubmit my video clips, which I did on a brief trip to Harrisburg, PA, this summer for my internship with Breadcoin PA Capital Region. Submitting these videos allow the foundation to match your pace with the pace of a dog. There are many other factors that go into matching a handler with a dog, including lifestyle, adaptability, and others. Not only does the foundation work with the potential handlers to match the dogs, but the dogs also must undergo extremely rigorous medical and behavioral testing before training can even begin. After spending approximately one year to 18 months with a puppy raiser, where the dogs learn basic commands and house manners, along with other exposures, the dogs are sent back to the Guide Dog Foundation, where testing and training begins.
At the foundation, the dogs undergo rigorous testing and training. The training, if tests are passed, takes approximately 3 to 4 months. After that, the dogs are matched with a handler.
Two years and a school transfer later, I received a phone call in July 2023 that would forever change my life.
I received the phone call from the Guide Dog Foundation that I had formally been matched with a dog.
After communicating several times, we officially set a training date: August 16. At that point, I had moved into my dorm and was ready to meet my little leader.
When it was time for me to meet my dog, the trainer held her leash, handed me a few pieces of kibble, and then released her. She ran over to me, Rigling all over with joy. She immediately climbs on me, licked my face, and received the kibble With a happy, wagging tail and wiggling body. from that moment on, Lester was mine and we became a team.
Lester, a female, black lab, laying on the floor in harness Typically, guide dog students travel to Smithtown, New York, where the Guide Dog Foundation campus is located, for training. However, due to my circumstances and Lesters tendencies, the foundation deemed it best to do a home placement. This meant that my trainer would bring Lester to the Messiah University campus where we would train together, along with doing routes in Harrisburg for city exposure.
We jumped in with both feet, starting bright and early the next day with Juno training, which is essentially training with the harness, minus the dog. This training is beneficial because the trainer can simulate certain movements and situations, without the pressure of having the dog in the harness. This allows the handler to get comfortable with the harness, commands, foot work, and many other nuances that come with guide dog work. Juno is incorporated throughout the 10 day training session.
Once I mastered the foot work, and basics with Juno, we added Lester, and did some basic practice in my dorm and the courtyard. As I was learning these things, we added a short route through downtown Harrisburg, where I could learn how to use performance management, along with sharpening my basic guide work and commands.
As the days progressed, we added more routes, incorporating important places on campus, such as the dining hall and Post Office/Campus store.
What many people don’t understand is that guide dog training is incredibly draining in every way. As you are bonding and learning this dog, they are learning you. Along with this, you are learning the incredibly important foundations of handling a guide dog. During training, any type of distraction may come up, and you have to learn to act in real time, in order that the dog will respond and learn correctly. This is one thing I struggled with till the very end of training, and will forever be a learning curve. there are many layers to handling a guide, dog successfully, and the partnership will take six months to a year to fully flush out and be fluid.
Despite the many hurdles and challenges I faced through training, I am incredibly grateful to the Guide Dog Foundation for selecting me as a candidate, and matching me with Lester. She has been an absolute gem, and even when she’s naughty, she’s too stinking adorable! I am so excited to see where this partnership will take us!
On August 27, training finished. We started the day with a little bit of sidewalk list travel practice, followed by church. After church, we headed to lunch at Panera, where we began the paperwork. After lunch, we headed back to campus, where I learned about how to properly care for Lester’s health and basic preventatives. At about 3 PM, I signed the document declaring that Lester would officially be in my care for the rest of her life. It was a very emotional evening, and I’m crying even now, (9/10), writing the post. 🙂
A couple of days ago, we were on our way to my French class, located in Boyer Hall. We are about halfway through the route, and the building was in sight. Once I noticed this, I gave the command, “find Boyer“. Once she heard this a couple of times, she began guiding me towards Boyer hall, navigating almost every turn without my giving them. Once we reached Boyer, I knew she had earned a party. This essentially means that I get down to her level and let her have some wiggles, along with a couple of pieces of kibble as a reward. I was incredibly proud of her, and I can’t wait to watch her build more memory of this campus!
Myself in a long black skirt and floral top, being led by Lester towards a flight of stairs outside the cafeteria When Lester isn’t in harness, she enjoys playing with certain toys that are permitted by the foundation, along with chewing on her favorite bones. She loves to wiggle and two on ice as well.
Each morning, when I get up to start our day, Lester pops up, tail, wagging, wiggling all over, and climbs me to lick my face and say good morning. After this, I usually give her a couple of ice cubes from my icemaker to chew on while I get ready. After that, it’s breakfast, Out to relieve her, and then off to class!
Lester giving me a good morning face lick as I finish getting ready for my first day of class at Messiah University In class, she typically sits directly under my chair, signaled by the command, “under“. This is done by me, holding a piece of kibble under my chair for her to grab, then I passed the leash to the correct side. She is sitting on.
So far, Lester has accompanied me to church, a women’s volleyball game, a Church kick off picnic, a club kick off picnic, a surprise birthday party, and Messiah games Association weekly game night. She has been loves nearly everywhere she goes. We still have our challenges, but I know we will overcome them!
There’s only one word that is appropriate to set this guide, dog team into motion: FORWARD!!!
Myself being led by Lester towards a flight of stairs, walking briskly, and praising Lester as we go. For any questions related to guide dogs, I highly encourage you to visit http://www.guidedog.org.
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Breaking barriers: leading as a blind individual
Are you a leader or a follower?
Although I may be only a rising senior in college, it is never too early to learn how to become a leader. Over the past few years, I’ve had several leadership trainings, including an incredible experience as an intern and member of the HersheyPark leadership development internship program level one. during the program, each student was placed in a department, and given a position at Hersheypark. We worked full-time, and on our days off, received a 12 week intensive leadership course through Shippensburg University. At the end of the summer, we all graduated with a certificate and leadership development from Shippensburg University. it was truly an honor to be a part of this program. Shout out to Marie Conley from Conley Consulting and Shippensburg University for creating and directing this incredible opportunity year after year. If any of my readers are in need of an internship for summer 2024, I highly recommend it.
An on the job photo at ZooAmerica, my position during the program However, as a disabled individual, and a woman in the workplace, I will face many barriers. I am grateful for the trainings I’ve had over the years, and I hope I can receive more in preparation for my entry into the workplace just a year from now. I aspire to be a fair and inclusive leader, who respects people of all ranks and abilities, and gives each person a chance to shine.
Some may consider my disability to be a disadvantage, but for me, it gives additional experiences and challenges I can draw from in order to educate and enlighten others for the better. my disability also makes me a great advocate for others with disabilities in the workplace. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities have a much harder time getting hired for jobs, despite the Americans with disabilities act, and the work that has been done to make the workplace an equal opportunity. The good news is that work on this issue has not stopped, and most states have agencies that disabled individuals can contact for assistance and advocacy tips for in and out of the workplace. Many of these agencies can help with things like assistive technology, orientation, and mobility training, and locating transportation services.
Me all dolled up before the scholarship awards banquet at the national Federation of the blind Ohio State convention in Cleveland One great resource is the national Federation of the blind. The NFB is a nationwide organization comprised of a national affiliate and state affiliates, which each have their own chapters for each general area. But National Federation Of The Blind has a wealth of resources, and also works very closely with state and national governments to solve problems faced by blind/low vision individuals everywhere.
Last year, I had the honor of serving as a secretary for the Ohio Association Of Blind Students. Even as a student, it is very important to seek leadership opportunities so you can learn and be prepared for the workplace. Internships with leader ship curriculum built in our another incredible wait to gain experience.
If you have any questions for me, or are interested in further discussing this topic, or any of my previous topics, please reach out!
Do you have topics you want me to talk about? Fill out the contact form or drop a comment! I love hearing from my readers and posting about things YOU are passionate about!
As usual, give this post a like, drop a comment with your thoughts, and share with your community using #BlindWandererMTKG !
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What is Accessibility in Tourism? 5 Tips to Make Travel More Accessible
It’s 7 AM…
You’re tired…
You climb out of the Uber, grab your suitcase from the trunk, and shuffle into the airport…
Despite having decent vision, you struggle to find your airlines, check-in kiosks, because of the large volume of people and many visual distractions.
Not only do sighted people, face this challenge, but people with visual challenges, as well as many other types of disabilities.
Accessibility in tourism is incredibly important, especially today. The definition of accessibility found in the New Oxford English dictionary is this: accessibility: n, the quality of being able to be entered or reached.
A definition this simple seems like it should be easy to implicate across all industries, right?
Top left corner: handicap symbol, top right corner: mental disability symbol, bottom, left corner: sign language symbol, bottom, right corner: blindness symbol It’s unfortunately not that simple.
Based on this definition, accessibility in tourism means that everyone should be able to enter/access any and all points of travel and tourism. This is much easier said than done, since each disability has its own challenges and limitations. For example, many countries have very rugged terrain and old historic buildings that elevators cannot be put into. This means that tourists with wheelchairs or mobility limitations would not be able to explore these countries. Another example similar to this is that tourists with visual disabilities or mobility limitations may not be able to enjoy the natural or architectural views of travel, especially when the terrain is inaccessible.
One incredible development for the visually impaired tourist came from a company called eSight based in Canada. eSight is a company which designs eyewear, which enhances the visual experience of those individuals who have limited vision. Using a device like this would allow a visually impaired tourist to appreciate the natural or architectural beauty around them. If you would like to learn more about eSight, I will provide the link at the end of this article.
For most disabilities, companies across the globe are working to make travel better. However, things that can be done now to enhance the travel experience in transportation centers, including airports, train stations, and bus stations include the following:
◦ Add audio messaging to alert travelers of what gate/airline they are nearing
◦ Add large, print signage, and braille on all visual markings
◦ Train staff on basic sign language
◦ Make transportation center apps more accessible by including large, print and alternative text
◦ Create an audio message, which plays as passengers are nearing things, such as stairs, escalators, moving walkways, and shuttle stop areas. These can be dangerous areas for individuals with little to no vision, or who are hard of hearing.
There are many more things that can be done, but these are just a few.
If you or a loved, one is discriminated against due to a disability, while traveling, be sure to respectfully and professionally report it to the travel company, and if necessary, TSA.
It is our job as disabled individuals, travel, industry, employees, government, Accessibility officials, and caretakers of disabled individuals to do our part in making the travel industry and travel experience a better one for those who come after us.
If you have any questions for me, or are interested, in further discussing this topic, please reach out!
Do you have topics you want me to talk about? Fill out the contact form or drop a comment! I love hearing from my readers and posting about things YOU are passionate about!
As usual, give this post a like, drop a comment with your thoughts, and share with your community using #BlindWandererMTKG !
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A picture may be worth 1000 words, but what if you can’t see it?
Ever looked at an image on social media, and couldn’t tell what was going on?
Ever watched a video on YouTube or social media and then unable to identify the subject?
Ever looked at an advertisement on social media and couldn’t tell what they were advertising?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re missing one thing: alt text.
A simple demonstration of alternative text and search engine optimization Whether you are sight challenged or not, this is highly frustrating.
Alternative text is a very simple tool that is built into every social media platform. It allows users to tap on an image and read a description. it also allows visually challenged users to understand the picture. This is because the screen reader will read the alternative text.
Companies and marketing agencies that do not use this feature are missing out on Potentially many loyal customers. Using alternative text is just one of them anyways brands can make themselves more accessible.
As previously stated, most social media platforms have this capability, but it can also be found in marketing tools such as Canva.
Have questions on how alt text works? Have advice for other users on how to navigate all text? Drop it in the comments! The more knowledge that is shared, the more accessible, the marketing industry will become.
Note: this is my last post for this semester, but I will be posting approximately every two weeks, so don’t go anywhere!
Do you have topics you want me to talk about? Fill out the contact form or drop a comment! I love hearing from my readers and posting about things YOU are passionate about!
As usual, give this post, a like, drop a comment with your thoughts, and share with your community using #BlindWandererMTKGBlog !
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Does Greyhound Bus travel Have a Dog in the Hunt? My In-depth Analysis on Cross-Country Bus Travel
Greyhound bus This Easter weekend, I traveled via Greyhound Bus to visit my family. My journey took me from Harrisburg Transportation Center to Cambridge, Ohio, and back, with a brief stop in Pittsburgh Station both ways.
Throughout this post, I’ll be unpacking the ins and outs of my journey, along with any problems I ran into along the way.
My bus was set to pull out at 2:20 PM on Thursday, April 6. I arrived at the Harrisburg Transportation Center at about 1:55 PM. When I got in there and found my way down to the greyhound section of the transportation center, there was no signage or desk person to direct me where to go for the Pittsburgh bus. When it was almost time for the bus to pull out, I decided to get up and wander around. Thank goodness I did, because I stumbled upon a door that was not visible from the waiting area. I found my bus and driver there. My driver kindly offered to come get me when it was time to board. My journey to Pittsburgh was fairly smooth, besides the fact that we left about 20 minutes late from Harrisburg. This meant that I had very little time to transfer buses, or use the restroom.
Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, we were quickly ushered off the bus, through the station, and then shouted at to go to whichever door corresponded with our destination. Once getting in line, our driver continued to shout at us as we boarded the bus. Other than the brief transfer and rather hostile reception in Pittsburgh, things went well. I arrived at the Marathon gas station/Greyhound station in Cambridge at about 9 PM on Thursday.
My parents had arranged for a local taxi company to pick me up and take me to my destinations for the evening. The transition went very smooth, and we were satisfied with the service.
On Monday, I got to the Marathon station at about 1 PM, 10 minutes before my bus was supposed to leave. Upon arrival, my mom and I noticed that there were two different buses, no signage, and very little direction. The other issue with using a gas station for buses is that there’s no place to sit, so the influx of passengers are stuck standing while waiting, sometimes for long amounts of time. Neither bus there had any Greyhound markings or labels. One was a Baron’s bus, while the other was a Bolt’s bus. As someone with a vision impairment, I’m looking for a greyhound bus, so this was highly confusing and slightly frustrating. After asking several people and getting verification from a driver, I successfully stowed my luggage and boarded the bus. My driver was respectful and informative.
A group of passengers boarding my bus to Pittsburgh Although we were slightly behind schedule, my boss arrived in Pittsburgh, and I had about 45 minutes for my transfer, or so, I thought…
After using the restroom and getting a drink, I attempted to search for my boarding area. To my dismay, the TVs with the bus information were very high up and contained only microscopic font that even sighted individuals struggle to read. This is a serious accessibility problem, especially since there are no audio communications in the bus terminals. After waiting for quite some time, one of the bus persons from my previous bus came over and informed the group of passengers that there was a 30 minute delay. After the 30 minutes were up, another 15 minutes transpired, and then we were all asked to get in line to board. We stood in line for about 25 minutes with no communication from anyone, just watching drivers and staff go back-and-forth, further confusing myself, as well as the other passengers. Finally, after waiting in line for over 30 minutes, we were ushered to another door and finally able to board. However, upon boarding, the seats reserved for disabled passengers were folded on one side, and occupied by the drivers belongings on the other. According to Greyhound, this is not permitted, and the seats are specifically meant for passengers with disabilities, or the elderly. When my driver boarded, I was rudely informed that I was not allowed to sit in the seats that were reserved for disabled passengers. My driver lacked understanding of basic disability etiquette and terminology, and assumed that because I was looking at my phone, I was not legally blind. This, however, is a severe, and rather infuriating mistake. After I mustered all the respect I had, I gave an explanation. After this, my driver stood messing around on her tablet, glaring at me for about 15 minutes. We were already behind, so I felt bad, but I needed to get my point across that this was not acceptable behavior.
Note: doing something like this takes a lot of courage and respect, but it was definitely necessary. I never like being the passenger that holds things up, but the general public must be educated.
Finally, she began to mind her own business and prepared for departure. Before we got going, she stood up, yet again, and came back to inform only me that cell phone usage after dusk, in the first four rows was not permitted. This annoyed me, especially because the roads behind me were completely full of people who were also using their cell phones. This announcement was not made to the entire bus, just to me. Another form of infuriating discrimination.
Other than the issue stated above, my trip went smoothly. I arrived in Harrisburg at about 920, and was back on campus by 10 PM.
I will most definitely be using Greyhound again, but I hope to see better, more respectful, conduct and communication from staff and drivers.
Overall, greyhound is significantly cheaper than flying, and overall takes less time. It is also slightly cheaper than Amtrak, and takes me closer to home, which eases the burden for my family. I am overall pleased with my experience.
I would be interested to hear about other bus travel experiences from anyone who is willing to share! Did you face discrimination like I did? Did you struggle to find your bus? What other issues did you face? Drop them in the comments or send me an email at sadiemc01@gmail.com.
Also, don’t forget to like this post and share to your social media so we can spread the community and awareness! When you do, share it with #blindwanderermtkgblog !
Have a blessed day and stay tuned for more next week!
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Overcoming The Covid 19 Pandemic: My Story
Me throwing my graduation cap into the air after a somber, socially distanced graduation How have you adapted to the changes brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many new challenges for myself and the blind/visually impaired community. However, it has also come with blessings in disguise.
As a high school senior, I was of course heartbroken when the world shut down on March 12, 2020. I was nine rehearsals out from putting on our drama production of “Cinderella” when all normal activity stopped. I was heartbroken and for a few weeks, could not be consoled. The realization that I would never get to have my prized senior moments was truly gut wrenching. However, Union Local High School did a fabulous job to honor the seniors the best they could.
Throughout quarantine, I was forced to learn the art of digital academics, having to maintain my grades and relationships with my teachers from a far. With a vision impairment, this is not easy, especially when dealing with some of the earlier formations of Google classroom. One key piece that was very important throughout this time was keeping in touch with my vision specialist. For those who don’t know, a teacher of the visually impaired is someone who works with visually impaired/blind students to help them through their academic journeys. My vision specialist played a very crucial role throughout this journey, helping me learn the technology, communicate needs with teachers, and much more.
One benefit that came from the pandemic is the world of zoom. As someone with a visual disability, and not being allowed to drive, zoom has been a huge benefit and help to me over the past several years. I know I’m not the only one who has experienced this blessing. Through the world of zoom, I was able to connect with many other blind students from across the state of Ohio, as well as the nation, through meetings, with the national Association of blind students , as well as the Ohio Association Of Blind Students, both chapters of the National Federation of the Blind.
Zoom was also a blessing and a game changer for me academically. It unlocked a new world of possibilities and potential for me, especially in my first year of college at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Since the nation was still deeply recovering from the shutdown, most of my classes were taught in a hybrid manner, meaning that I went to class one or two days each week, while spending the others on zoom. It made it easier for me to travel home and see my family, or deal with medical challenges that arose throughout the year.
One major challenge that the pandemic brought on for me was the lack of friendship. While at school, I could not go into any of my dorm mates’ rooms. If we wanted to see friends, we had to do it in the lobby, socially distanced, and wearing masks. It was very hard to make meaningful connections that first year of college. However, the university as well as residential staff did what they could to allow us to create if you meaningful memories.
Despite the challenges the pandemic caused for all of us, I think, as a nation we have become stronger and more resilient. I know if someone disagree, but I have to believe that something good will eventually come from all of this.
Feel free to leave your own COVID-19 Adjustments in the comments! Don’t forget to share and interact with me on social media! Have a blessed day!
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Blind Wanderer 