United Airlines Retrofits Aircraft Cabins With Braille

UA made history by becoming the first U.S. carrier to install Braille throughout the cabin, boosting independence for millions of passengers with visual impairments.

As more than 27 million persons with disabilities used a plane for their travel in 2019, some of the airline's planes have been upgraded with Braille navigational aids, including Braille row and seat designations and Braille bathroom signs. Moreover, United plans to install Braille on all of its commercial aircraft by the year 2026, with the goal of increasing the total number of tactile signs in the cabins, this way making air travel more welcoming and accessible for all people.

United is also investigating the feasibility of incorporating raised letters, numbers, and arrows alongside Braille in order to make the aircraft more accessible to those with disabilities.

UA's efforts to make its planes readily available to those with visual impairments have been much applauded. NFB President Mark Riccobono commented with the occasion:

“The flight experience is often frustrating for a number of reasons, one of which is the amount of information that is available exclusively through printed signs and other visual indicators. We hope to continue working with United to explore additional ways to make flying more accessible and less stressful for blind passengers.”

United has been named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for the eighth year running, thanks in large part to its high ranking on the Disability Equality Index, a benchmarking tool developed by the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN to promote equal working opportunities for people in this group.

The company's efforts to provide accessible alternatives for its passengers and workers will continue with the introduction of Braille to mainline aircraft over the next several years.

At the same time, recent changes to the United mobile app have made it more accessible to people with visual impairments by increasing colour contrast, providing more space between graphics, and rearranging the order in which information is presented. This allows the app to work more efficiently with screen reader tools.

By 2032, United plans to have taken ownership of 700 brand-new narrow- and wide-body aircraft outfitted with state-of-the-art back-seat screens as part of United Next, the airline's ambitious expansion strategy. As a company, the airline is committed to being an advocate for customers with disabilities, and help fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can reach their full potential.

Furthermore, as part of United's ongoing commitment to Special Olympics, the airline has established the Special Olympics Service Ambassador program, which gives athletes the opportunity to gain work experience by serving as ambassadors for the organization in the airline's Airport Operations and Customer Service departments. The airline also supports the Special Olympics by donating time, money, and transportation to regional, national, and worldwide tournaments.

Source: breakingtravelnews.com