There are enough things to worry about when you travel and communication should not be one of them. Unfortunately, for the Deaf and hard of hearing, travel can present unique challenges that can put a damper on your trip.
Many transportation hubs like train stations and airports heavily depend on verbal announcements to pass on vital information to passengers, often leaving passengers who are Deaf or hard of hearing uninformed. A lack of understanding of Deaf Culture can lead to a lack of accommodation when they reach their destination which can lead to communication challenges..
Fortunately, technology has been making traveling easier by making communication more accessible for those who are hard of hearing. Let’s talk about the challenges that the Deaf and hard of hearing experience when they travel and how technology is helping to overcome them.
Understanding Travel Challenges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The unique challenges that the Deaf and hard of hearing face when they travel can include difficulty communicating with transportation staff, missing information from verbal announcements, and confusion and delays during emergency situations.
Communication barriers can arise when speaking with transportation staff such as ineffective communication that does not give you the information that you need, a reliance on written communication, and a general lack of knowledge about the Deaf Culture and community. Ineffective communication and reliance on written communication can cause delays and leave you with outdated or wrong information, which can complicate your travel plans.
During emergency situations, audio signals such as emergency announcements, fire alarms, or sirens are relied upon to alert and direct passengers. This can often leave passengers who are hard of hearing without vital information which can be the difference between life and death.
Related: What Language Do Deaf People Think In?
Technology’s Role in Enhancing Travel Accessibility
Technology has made traveling much more accessible to the Deaf community through mobile apps that improve the travel experience for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Many mobile apps are travel-related and can provide a wealth of visual and written information such as tourist information, maps, or directions. However, mobile apps that allow seamless communication during travel have quickly become one of the most important travel tools for the Deaf and hard of hearing.
Mobile apps like Bridg’d, which connects the Deaf and friends who hear in real-time, are essential for not only making sure that you can travel safely but also so that you can experience the culture and people of the locations you visit.
Related: Discover the Latest Communication Devices for Deaf Individuals
Specific Travel Challenges Faced by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Here are some specific challenges that the Deaf and hard of hearing may have to deal with when traveling.
Airport Security
When an individual is going through airport security, they are expected to obey all commands from security personnel as well as pay attention to any alerts that may be given. Since most of the commands are given verbally and many alerts rely on auditory cues, it can cause confusion for the Deaf community.
Related: Communicating Effectively with Police as a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Person
Safety Instructions
There are times when passengers may be given instructions by the transportation crew, such as in-flight safety instructions or emergency protocols for a stopped train car. Although there are visual aids used during in-flight safety instructions, important details can be missed by those who are hard of hearing. In emergency situations, seconds count, and any communication barriers can result in delays that can put the safety of passengers at risk.
Public Transportation
In cities that rely heavily on public transportation such as buses and subways, members of the Deaf community can experience difficulties while navigating through these public spaces due to communication barriers. It can be difficult in a crowded subway car to figure out which stop to exit without hearing the stop announcement from the conductor.
Hotel Staff
While the goal of the hotel staff is to provide you with a comfortable stay with everything you need for a good night of sleep, a lack of accommodation for the Deaf and hard of hearing can lead to an inability of staff to provide for special requests such as meals for those with dietary restrictions.
Our Assistive Mobile App: Features and Benefits for Travel
Although these travel challenges can definitely dampen a trip for the Deaf and hard of hearing, the Bridg’d app can make your trips much easier and make communication much more accessible by allowing you to quickly and accurately have a conversation with friends who are hearing. Bridg’d is a mobile app that combines text-to-speech features with voice transcription which allows the Deaf to communicate with friends who are hearing seamlessly.
The real-time captioning feature on the Bridg’d app will make sure that you do not miss any important auditory announcements such as terminal changes, which will make sure that you get to your destination on time without delays and unnecessary frustration. These are also transcribed so that if you need to reference any announcement, you can easily do so by looking through your Bridg’d conversations.
If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, you absolutely need the Bridg’d app so that you can tear down communication barriers that can be getting in the way of your trip. Try a 7-day trial free here.
Implementing the App in Travel Scenarios
All that is needed to use the Bridg’d app is a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet, and internet access to download the app. Once you get that done, you can sign up for the free 7-day trial where you can learn about how Bridg’d can enhance your ability to communicate with people who do not know sign language.
Make sure you keep your mobile device charged and use your Bridg’d app to communicate and transcribe conversations that you can look back on later for important details. That way you will always be able to reference directions, instructions, or information that you may need at the touch of your hand.
Collaborative Efforts for Improved Travel Accessibility
As technology advances, travel industries will develop the ability to enhance travel accessibility and tear down communication barriers for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Technology providers, travel firms, and the Deaf community have great incentive to work with each other since it will be mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
Travel industries will rely on technology providers to make communication easier so that it encourages the Deaf community to travel, while the technology providers will depend on the feedback from the Deaf community so that they release features that will make traveling much easier.
Future of Travel Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The future of travel accessibility for the Deaf and hard of hearing is extremely exciting, as the advances that we are seeing today are paving the way for a much more accessible world. As more people use the Bridg’d mobile app for traveling and provide feedback on how to improve the travel experience for the Deaf and hard of hearing, it will ensure that the app evolves to meet any and all communication needs while traveling.
Whether you are traveling or just want to communicate more easily with your friends who are hearing, the Bridg’d app is just what you’re looking for. Learn all about it here.
Safe Travels!
Now that you know the tools that you need to travel and explore the world, it is time to spread your wings and do so. Make sure you download the Bridg’d mobile app before you travel so that these travel challenges do not distract you from all the things that you have traveled to see. Travel safe and remember to use Bridg’d to help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.
