Wisdom 4 the Blind and Florida Vision Technology are helping five blind and visually impaired individuals take adventure off the pavement and onto the trails of Sedona, Arizona.
This October, five members of the blind and visually impaired community will experience something extraordinary: hiking among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona.
The trip is being sponsored by Wisdom 4 the Blind and Florida Vision Technology and will bring together adaptive equipment, experienced guidance, community, and a willingness to try something new.
But this trip isn’t simply about hiking.
It’s about independence, confidence, access, and challenging expectations about what life with vision loss can look like.
Why Sedona?
Our late founder, Benjamin “Ben” Keeley, believed strongly that blindness should never mean the end of experiencing life.
Wisdom 4 the Blind was created to connect people with information, resources, technology, one another — and opportunities they may not have realized were available to them.
This trip carries that mission forward.
Five blind and visually impaired participants will travel to Sedona and take to the trails alongside Sedona Dave, experiencing one of America’s most remarkable outdoor landscapes in an accessible and supportive environment.
Participants will also have the opportunity to hike using Awarewolf All Terrain Canes, mobility tools designed specifically with outdoor exploration in mind.
The goal isn’t to prove that blindness doesn’t create challenges.
It’s to demonstrate how the right skills, tools, information, training, and community can help people find new ways to meet those challenges.
More Than a Hike
For someone adjusting to vision loss, independence can sometimes feel like a list of things that have changed.
Wisdom 4 the Blind wants to help change that conversation.
What can you learn?
Where can you travel?
What technology could make your day easier?
What career could you pursue?
What new skill could you develop?
And yes — what trail could you hike?
Accessible recreation can provide opportunities to practice orientation and mobility skills, build confidence, meet other people who understand vision loss, and discover new interests.
Sometimes a trail can become a classroom.
Five Hikers. Five Stories.
One of the most exciting parts of this trip will be introducing you to the five individuals joining us.
Each participant comes to Sedona with a different story, different experiences with vision loss, and different goals.
Throughout our journey, we’ll be sharing their experiences so that other blind and visually impaired individuals — particularly someone who may be newly experiencing vision loss — can see what is possible.
We’ll share the equipment we’re using, what works, what we learn, the challenges we encounter, and plenty of moments from the trails.
Technology and Training Open Doors
Accessible technology continues to change what is possible for people who are blind and visually impaired.
But technology alone isn’t independence.
Knowing that a resource exists, having access to it, receiving appropriate training, and developing the confidence to use it are equally important.
That’s why Wisdom 4 the Blind wants to be more than an organization that hosts events.
We want to be a place where people come to learn what resources are available to them.
Whether you’re a student learning braille and assistive technology, an adult navigating employment with vision loss, a Veteran adjusting to blindness, or a family member trying to help someone you love, we want Wisdom 4 the Blind to help you find your next resource, connection, or opportunity.
Carrying Ben’s Mission Forward
This adventure is especially meaningful as Wisdom 4 the Blind enters a new chapter following the passing of our founder and friend, Ben Keeley.
Ben understood the importance of getting people connected.
He believed in education.
He believed in technology.
He believed in community.
And he believed that people who are blind and visually impaired deserved opportunities to experience everything life has to offer.
So this October, we’re carrying that mission all the way to Sedona.
Five hikers.
A spectacular landscape.
A few all-terrain canes.
And one important message:
There is more out there. Let’s go find it.
Follow Wisdom 4 the Blind this October as we introduce our hikers, prepare for the trip, hit the trails, test adaptive equipment, and share what we learn along the way.
And if you or someone you love is blind, visually impaired, or experiencing vision loss, keep exploring Wisdom 4 the Blind. Our goal is to connect you with the education, technology, services, and community resources that can help you take your own next step.
