How Do Blind People Get Around? Tools, Techniques, and Technology
By David Murphy | September 8, 2025
Getting from one place to another is something many people take for granted. For individuals with visual impairments or blindness, everyday mobility relies on a combination of skills, tools, training, and environmental cues that support safe, independent navigation.
How do blind people get around? Most rely on a combination of mobility aids such as white canes or guide dogs, orientation and mobility (O&M) training, and assistive technologies that provide audio, tactile, or location-based feedback. Accessible building design and ADA-compliant signage also play an important role in helping people navigate with confidence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 2.2 billion people worldwide experience some form of vision impairment, and at least 1 billion of these cases could have been prevented or remain untreated.
This growing public health concern highlights the importance of accessible design, inclusive technology, and greater public awareness. Business owners, contractors, and facility managers can make a meaningful difference by creating environments that support safe and independent movement.
4 Traditional Tools That Help Blind People Navigate
Many blind and visually impaired individuals depend on mobility tools that provide consistent, reliable support. These aids often form the foundation of safe and confident travel, especially in environments where advanced technology may not be available.
1. White Canes
The white cane is one of the most recognizable tools used by people who are blind. It acts as a tactile extension of the user’s senses, helping detect curbs, stairs, floor transitions, and obstacles through physical feedback.
Some modern white canes incorporate haptic feedback features that provide vibration alerts when terrain changes or obstacles are detected.
For businesses, signage should be installed at a height of 48-60 inches from the floor and include Grade 2 Braille, raised characters, and high-contrast, non-glare materials. These features are essential components of an accessible, ADA-compliant environment. 
2. Guide Dogs
Guide dogs are specially trained to help individuals who are blind avoid obstacles, follow routes, and navigate busy public spaces. Unlike a white cane, a guide dog can make real-time decisions that help its handler travel more safely.
To qualify, users typically complete training through a certified organization and learn how to work effectively with their guide dog. While guide dogs are not the right solution for everyone, they provide a high level of mobility and confidence for many users.
Facilities should also be guide-dog friendly. Keep walkways clear, avoid floor clutter, and never distract a working service animal. Clearly marked accessible entrances and assistance areas can improve the experience for guide dog users and visitors alike.
3. Orientation and Mobility Training (O&M)
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training teaches individuals how to travel independently using sound, touch, environmental awareness, and mobility tools such as canes and GPS applications.
Offered through rehabilitation centers and trained instructors, O&M programs help people move safely both indoors and outdoors. Businesses can support these navigation strategies by maintaining consistent layouts, reducing unnecessary clutter, and using intuitive, ADA-compliant signage throughout a facility.
4. Sighted Guides
A sighted guide assists a blind individual by allowing them to lightly hold the guide’s arm while navigating unfamiliar or crowded environments, such as airports, hospitals, or large office buildings.
Although not every visitor will need a guide, many benefit from facilities that provide trained staff, designated assistance areas, and clear wayfinding signage.
Clearly marked assistance stations with tactile and Braille signage can make the experience smoother and more welcoming for visitors who rely on guided navigation.
5 Modern Technologies Transforming Mobility
Technology continues to expand how people who are blind navigate the world. These innovations complement traditional mobility tools and help users travel more confidently through complex environments.
1. GPS Navigation Apps with Audio Directions
Apps such as Soundscape and Lazarillo use voice prompts and spatial audio to help users identify landmarks and navigate outdoor environments.
While GPS technology is valuable outdoors, it does not replace effective indoor wayfinding. Accessible signs clearly identified entrances, and logical building layouts remain essential for successful navigation inside facilities.
2. Wearables and Smart Glasses That Detect Obstacles
Devices such as Envision Glasses and Sunu Band use cameras and sensors to identify objects, people, and obstacles. Users receive information through audio announcements or vibration feedback.
These technologies work best when paired with clear interior layouts and readable signage that help users understand their surroundings.
3. Voice Assistants for Hands-Free Assistance
Voice-enabled tools such as Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa allow users to access information or request assistance hands-free. They can be especially useful in office settings, elevators, lobbies, and other public areas.
Businesses can improve usability by clearly identifying voice-enabled features and providing tactile instructions where appropriate.
4. Transit Apps With Real-Time Accessibility Data
Apps such as Moovit and Transit provide real-time transportation updates, including accessibility-focused features like voice guidance and route information.
These tools help visually impaired travelers make informed decisions when navigating public transportation systems and shared mobility options.
5. Bluetooth Beacons and Indoor Navigation Tools
Platforms such as NaviLens and Aira use smartphone-connected technology to provide location-based guidance within indoor environments, including airports, hospitals, shopping centers, and office buildings.
When combined with ADA-compliant signage, these systems create multiple layers of navigation support and can help improve accessibility in complex facilities.
4 Ways to Make Your Facility Accessibility-Friendly
Inclusive design helps people move through a space with confidence, dignity, and independence. The following improvements can make facilities more welcoming and easier to navigate for individuals with visual impairments.
1. Install ADA-Compliant Braille Signage
For someone who cannot rely on vision alone, well-designed tactile signage can provide critical navigation information.
ADA-compliant signs should include:
- Grade 2 Braille
- Raised characters
- High-contrast, non-glare materials
- Mounting heights of 48-60 inches from the floor
These features help visitors identify rooms, exits, restrooms, and services without assistance while supporting independent navigation throughout a facility.
2. Add Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI)
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI) are textured floor surfaces that alert users to hazards, elevation changes, or directional shifts.
For people using white canes, these surfaces provide important tactile cues that improve orientation and safety. Consider installing them near entrances, stairways, ramps, escalators, and elevator banks.
3. Keep Walkways Wide and Clutter-Free
Many individuals with visual impairments use a technique called “shorelining,” which involves following walls or consistent edges while traveling.
Unexpected obstacles, temporary displays, or furniture placed in walking paths can disrupt navigation. Maintaining open pathways and consistent layouts helps create a safer, more predictable environment.
4. Partner With Erie Custom Signs
Accessibility goes beyond meeting minimum requirements. Effective signage should support independent navigation while aligning with your facility’s design standards.
Erie Custom Signs provides:
- Grade 2 Braille and raised tactile characters
- Custom design options and fast turnaround times
- ADA-compliant signage solutions
- Durable material selections
- Expert support throughout the ordering process
From consultation to production, our team helps organizations create signage programs that meet ADA requirements while improving the experience of everyone who visits their facility.
Where Inclusion Meets Intention
For blind and visually impaired individuals, independence is influenced by the design of the spaces around them. Every decision, from installing tactile signage to maintaining clear walkways, can make a facility easier and safer to navigate.
When businesses invest in accessible design, they are doing more than meeting ADA requirements. They are creating environments that help all visitors move confidently and independently.
At Erie Custom Signs, we help architects, contractors, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and businesses implement ADA-compliant signage solutions that support accessibility and wayfinding.
Ready to improve accessibility in your facility? Explore our ADA signage solutions and start building a more inclusive environment today.