Dear friends, This is a note we are proud to share.
*Rising Star Khilte Chehre is featured in **India Outbound** magazine, pages 66 to 69, in the January–February issue.* For many people, this may look like “good news.” For blind and visually impaired travellers, it is something more important. It means our journeys, our needs, and our independence are being spoken about in a mainstream tourism space — not as a side story, and not as charity, but as *serious travel work*. What this feature means for blind tourism in India Blind tourism in India is still treated like an exception. Most systems are built with one assumption: that blind people will not travel unless someone “takes care of them.” This feature pushes back against that assumption. It shows something we have been saying for years: - *Accessibility is not only ramps and elevators.* - It is planning. - It is trained support. - It is clear guidance. - It is dignity. - And it is the freedom to move without your independence being taken away. When a national tourism magazine prints these truths, it matters. Because it signals to the industry that blind travellers are not invisible. We are travellers. We are customers. We are citizens. We belong in the tourism economy. The travellers’ perspective in the article The article includes the voices of our travellers. One traveller speaks about how international travel had felt “distant” until a trip was designed with visually impaired travellers in mind. Another traveller shares something many of us know too well: people keep asking, “What will you see there?” The article answers that question without making it dramatic. It shows that travel is not only about sight. It is about experiencing the world fully — through movement, touch, sound, explanation, and confidence. It also shows something practical and real: when support is trained and timely, it does not reduce independence. It protects it. Our trustee’s perspective in the article The article also carries the thinking behind the work. Our trustee speaks about why this model exists: - not to “help” blind people travel, - but to *design travel in a way that respects blind independence*. It shares the systems behind the journey: - careful preparation, - a structured volunteer model, - briefing teams and staff, - and building experiences where travellers feel capable, respected, and included. That is the work people do not see when they only see photos. Six years of work behind one feature We have been working extensively on inclusive travel for more than six years. This feature recognises that this is not a one-time trip. It is long-term work — learning, building, correcting, training, and proving again and again that blind travel is possible when society does its part. Read the accessible version If you use a screen reader, we have prepared a fully accessible text version of the article with clear headings and image descriptions. *Read the accessible article (screen-reader friendly):* *India Outbound Magazine - Pg 66-69 - Rising Star Khilte Chehre* <https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSoc2OcHGixAGLu_XctHnBqpeJ52tCZ6pYXz81YjBDhp2vF8TWEQx6upaFEvDzN2M2Zp5gzYrqMXXdz/pub> *Article Link: * *https://indiaoutbound.info/flip-book/india-outbound-jan-feb-2026/* <https://indiaoutbound.info/flip-book/india-outbound-jan-feb-2026/> Thank you for being part of this. Not as an audience. As the reason this work exists. With respect, *Lovely Sarkar Soti,* *Rising Star Khilte Chehre* -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAC%3DrEjuBwY1WhMc_wL2hE8Kwpsa47_wjhnHrvEGP7%3Dc6FFMBGw%40mail.gmail.com.
