When Ms. Uyanga Erdenebold, a blind student from Mongolia, arrived at Louisiana State University on a Fulbright Program scholarship, she had to get used to a new city, a new country, and the rigors of graduate school – not to mention the humidity. As she pursued her Master’s degree in Library Science, she learned to travel independently with a white cane, honed her computer skills, and read extensively for her studies. Ms. Erdenebold reported being forever changed by her experience in the United States, which she describes as “an interesting, dynamic and encouraging one.”
For international professionals and students who are blind or have low vision, visiting the United States just became easier. The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) has published a new informational tipsheet to assist international blind and low vision visitors in preparing to come to the United States. This tipsheet contains a variety of resources about access and independent living.
Read: “Blind Visitors to the United States: What you need to know” at: http://www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/blindvisitorstousa
This free resource includes:
Guidance for locating resources—orientation and mobility services, dog guide training, public transportation access, live reader services, etc.
Tips on independent living—cooking, laundry, managing money, etc.
Information about learning Braille and accessing audio- or E-books
Considerations for locating and using assistive technology
Primary emphasis of this new informational guide is on enhancing the U.S. experience of blind visitors who are coming for academic or professional training, but the resources may also be useful to U.S. residents and international people traveling to the United States for other reasons.
