WASHINGTON — D.C. can be a confusing place for tourists to navigate — especially a blind tourist. But in a new BBC program, the network’s disability affairs specialist made an adventure of exploring the area and shared how it compares to other places he had visited internationally.
“This program is called Blind Man Roams the Globe, which is about the cheekiest title I could come up with,” said Peter White, who has been blind from birth.
In the audio program, White gains perspective about cities by creating “sound pictures,” and by talking with people. His experiences in D.C. led him to observe that the area is full of contrasts.
“It is an extraordinary mixture, this city, of the very self-important and the very down at heel,” White said.
In his travels, White took a boat ride with the owner of a historic Virginia mansion with ties to the Central Intelligence Agency, chatted with homeless people and encountered “helpful” sales people.
The first people White met in D.C. were two men described by a Union Station worker as “bums.” They were friendly and helpful with advice. There was a charming exchange between White and the men when one admonished the other for suggesting White visit the Wax Museum.
“He’s blind, he can’t see any of that!” the companion exclaimed.
Eventually the Union Station employee ran the men off, warning White not to trust anyone. But, White seemed to find friendly, well-intentioned people wherever he went.
“There are things I really like about Washington,” White said before enthusiastically detailing how inviting the Metrorail system was for people with disabilities. Station stops are announced with an overhead intercom and wheelchairs can roll directly onto trains.
Comparing D.C. to world cities experiencing economic advancements, White observed a similar trend of “gentrification” of neighborhoods where the poor can no longer afford to live.
“Where are they going?” White asked an unidentified D.C. acquaintance in the program. The man failed to provide a useful answer. “Who knows?” he said.
White’s “Blind Man Roams The Globe” program series so far has visited Nairobi, Washington and Brazil for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
“Having done Washington, I think I ought to do Moscow [next]. It’s on the list if they’ll let me go and if the BBC doesn’t run out of money,” White quipped.
