Selfie for All

Selfie for All: Flanders launches selfie spots for blind and visually impaired travellers

Flanders is introducing what it describes as a world first: 50 accessible selfie spots at 24 tourist locations, designed so that blind and visually impaired visitors can take their own photo in front of a landmark, with the view properly framed.

Snapping a selfie in front of a famous sight is one of the simplest ways to capture a travel memory. But if you have little or no sight, working out where to stand, where the landmark actually is and which way to point your phone is far from straightforward. Selfie for All, an initiative from the Flemish tourism agency VISITFLANDERS, sets out to change that.

 

How it works

Each Selfie for All spot is a tactile tile set into the pavement, backed up by digital support so it works for visitors with and without a visual impairment. Locations can be found through Visit Flanders, Google Maps, partner websites and local tourist information offices.

Using a Selfie for All spot involves a few simple steps:

• Open the free NaviLens app, which detects the tile’s colourful code and guides you to it with spoken directions and haptic (vibration) feedback.
• Stand on the textured footprints on the tile, which position you so the attraction is framed behind you.
• Point your smartphone towards yourself and take the photo, using your phone’s accessibility features or screen reader if you need to.
• If you want to know more about where you are, audio content and stories about the location are available through NaviLens Go.

 

From historic city centres to nature reserves

The 50 tiles cover a mix of backdrops, from heritage sites to outdoor beauty spots. Locations include:

• The Grote Markt in Mechelen, surrounded by historic guild houses and overlooked by St Rumbold’s tower and cathedral. This is where the first tile is being officially inaugurated.
• The Castle of the Counts in Ghent, a medieval moated castle that was once home to the Counts of Flanders.
• Zwin Nature Park on the Belgian coast, known for its natural beauty and rich birdlife.
• Hoge Kempen National Park in Limburg, one of the largest nature areas in Flanders.

 

Designed with visually impaired people, not just for them

Selfie for All was developed in close collaboration with blind and visually impaired people and their advocacy organisations, whose experiences and feedback shaped both the physical tile and the digital and audio support. PBTconsult also contributed to the design and production of the tile.

Importantly, the tiles are not reserved for disabled visitors. Anyone can use them. VISITFLANDERS says the aim is to show that inclusion does not have to be a separate provision, and can instead be a natural part of the visitor experience for everyone.

For visually impaired visitor Lore Casselman, that matters.

Lore Casselman said:

“For blind and visually impaired people, taking a selfie with a nice background isn’t at all straightforward. I’m pleased that ‘Selfie for All’ is raising awareness of this. If I came across one of these selfie spots, I’d definitely take a selfie and share it straight away with my mum, friends and colleagues.”

Find a Selfie for All spot

A full list of Selfie for All locations is available on the VISITFLANDERS website (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).

 

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Further reading and resources

Selfie for All locations – VISITFLANDERS (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Holidays for blind and partially sighted people – RNIB (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)

 

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