Firstly well done. I love Boston! Just outside the city is perkins school the blind, they maybe able to help. Practice your routes and familiarise yourself with the paths you'll take the most. Harvard,like most big universities have disability officers too https://accessibility.harvard.edu/

Oh I know this one!

You can get an orientation and mobility instructor through the accessibly office. (Which is a great resource and you should talk to them anyway about making sure they have all of your accomodations on file.)

I think they still contract with the Carroll Center for the Blind, and I know the instructors that do the Harvard campus, they've been doing it for years, they know the campus well, and can help you learn the routes to your classes and all that jazz. They're wicked nice.

Congrats on getting into Harvard! Boston isn't always the most accessable city, but people here are generally pretty good and most of the local colleges have very good disability departments. You're not the first blind kid to go to Harvard, which is a good thing because it means they have some experience. I cannot even begin to fathom how excited and nervous you must be going to a different country on your own at 18! Best of luck.

Thank you all for your comments! I had a Zoom call with Harvard's Accessible Education Office a few weeks ago, and I am now in the process of sending them the documents they require to begin the process of seeing what accommodations they will give me. They seem very helpful. I also spoke at the time with representatives from Perkins and will most likely write to them again when I am close to the date I leave. I think I am most concerned about learning directions in such a short time in a country (and city) that I don't know. I hope the GPS will help! Aira looks very interesting to me, it seems worth the price, but it is extremely expensive for me. Thanks again for commenting! I always read on Reddit and this is the first time I dare to post something in a sub haha.

Get in touch with the Massachusetts Commission for the blind, they can help get you Mobility/travel lessons, and can put you in touch with Harvard’s Accessibility staff. If they don’t do what you ask in a timely manner, call them, send them e-mails, and do whatever it takes to get through to them. Congrats and good luck!

Welcome! A friend of mine who is blind will be attending Harvard Law School this coming year. He’s done some preliminary explorations.

I second the recommendations to connect with Perkins School for the Blind and the Carroll Center. Perkins has free tours and a museum worth visiting, though I haven’t visited since before the pandemic. Kevin, the tour guide, tells great stories.

Public transportation in Boston is good for an American city. You’ll want a pass for the T, which is the name of the subway and bus and commuter rail system. There’s a station for the Red Line in Harvard Square, across the street from the university.

Fair warning: very few city blocks in Boston are properly square. The streets angle and curve all over the place.

When you get into town, considering sending me a message. I have a few connections that may help, including white cane users who can give you pointers about getting around Cambridge. I work in accessibility and navigation, so I’m also interested to observe someone learning how to navigate a bee place, though I certainly understand if meeting a stranger for that purpose would be weird.

I’m not an O&M instructor so I can’t give you specific pointers, but there are some key locations that I think you’ll want to know about. There are a number of shops in Harvard Square well worth visiting. I’m sure you’ll get recommendations, but I’d be happy to give a few of my own. If you like chocolate in any form, then Burdick’s is a place you must visit.

Congratulations!! As others have said, I would reach out to the school’s accessibility office as they should be able to direct you best. Boston is a fantastic city.

I would look into vocational rehabilitation services in the state that your school is located in. However, I am not sure if the allocation of services will be impacted since you are an international student and not a local resident of that state. You will benefit from orientation and mobility training. You might like the app, Seeing AI. While it can get expensive, using the service, Aira can be extremely helpful.

Congrats on the achievement. Best thing is to get in touch with the accessibility office & arrange a meeting with someone there. They would be your source to help with accommodations.

You've got great advice from other Redditors, I'd just like to say congratulations! Feel proud of yourself.

Carol centre is a great resource for orientation and mobility. They'll be able to help you learn the campus. One thing to note, however, is although boston is nice, the gps apps don't always work that well due to the high rise buildings around, though I think thats the case for most big cities.

Wow just want to say congratulations!