Where Every Sense Tells a Story

“I love that ‘Beyond my Blur’ makes travel more accessible by sharing information about how to use the non-visual senses to enjoy travel experiences. Many people don’t understand that blind and low vision people can travel, do travel and have meaningful travel experiences. It’s not all about vision! Thank you Marie Elise, for creating this platform and helping people reimagine what travel can be like. You’re making a real difference!”

“Marie’s social media posts and travel blog are a powerful reminder that many of the limits that are imposed on visually impaired people are just in the eyes of the fully sighted beholders. I had to learn it myself in the hard way, but now I understood that life is too short to pass on travel opportunities and experiencing the world with whatever senses we still have” 

“I got to know Marie Elise through Instagram. I really appreciate how she shares her life with her followers, how openly she talks about her visual impairment, what it means for her life, and how she deals with it. She also shares how she handles her insecurities. What I admire most about her, though, is that despite everything, she always tries to stay positive and focuses on what she can do, rather than what she can’t (anymore). She also shares her personal interests in nature, animals, travel, photography, Disney, and more. In short, she’s someone to admire, and perhaps others can also find inspiration in her stories.”

“Both Marie Elise’s blog posts and social media videos have inspired me to look deeper into the beauty of our natural world through non-visual aspects. Additionally, her content has inspired me to want to challenge solo traveling, despite my own visual impairment.”

“Marie’s travel posts are always informative and delightful. I especially love her focus on subtle and big sensory experiences beyond just the photo worthy vistas. From the sounds of nature, the tastes of dining out, or the classic scent of lavender field, Marie’s descriptions are wonderfully transportive. I am always excited for her next adventure shared with us!”  

“I’m excited to share my experience with ‘beyondmyblur.com’. Having traveled with friends who are visually impaired, I can confidently say this platform is a true game changer. Marie Elise has created an inclusive environment that prioritizes accessibility and enjoyment for blind and visually impaired travelers. The thoughtfully crafted itineraries and detailed descriptions make it easy to prepare for each adventure. I wholeheartedly recommend ‘beyndmyblur.com’ for anyone seeking to explore the world with confidence and joy. It is inspiring to witness travel that is both inclusive and enriching for all!”  

“Absolutely love ‘Beyond my Blur’! As someone who has had to get used to traveling by herself with a disability, this platform has been super interesting. Getting to hear about all the different adventures and tricks that can be used when traveling with a disability really helps when you can get it from someone with experience!!”

“My vision loss is relatively new, about 11 years now yet everyday brings a challenge. I’ve traveled within my country, the United States, but have concerns about other countries because I also use a Guide dog. But through you and your travels, I am more confident to take that step. I’ve even started to learn a new language, (Irish) to travel to that country, all thanks to you. Keep the travels coming, for many, it may be the closest thing to actually seeing some amazing places through your descriptions.”

"Photography is my passion, and when Marie Elise mentioned on Instagram that she was going to learn photography, I was excited for her. Having followed her travels on Instagram for along time, I was sure she would be good. Her choice of camera and lens threw me because she picked niehter a beginner’s camera nor a beginner’s lens. I asked her why she picked these, and her answers made sense fully. She had thought this out and had already learned much. Marie is extremely artistic and just knew how to make images that are poignant and lasting. Her photo page on Instagram, while new, is one of the best. I enjoy it thoroughly."

Marie Elise is an incredible advocate and educator through her platform ‘Beyond my Blur’. Commitment to empowering individuals, including people with vision loss, is inspiring and practical. Marie Elise’s personal experience and understanding of accessibility challenges make her guidance relatable and enjoyable for all travelers.

“Marie Elise has so much to offer as a storyteller, bringing the world to life in adventure, beauty and inclusivity. Her talents as a photographer and writer is a perfect catalyst for both visual and non-visual audiences - her content would be a great addition to any travel magazine or shows. I love how she can paint a full picture with her words and it feels as if we are stepping in her shoes seeing the world through her eyes.”

“Marie Elise’s content is truly inspiring and empowering. Her journey as a visually impaired traveler motivates me to believe that no challenge is too big to overcome. Her authentic experiences and uplifting messages remind me to embrace life’s adventures no matter the obstacles. Following her has brought so much positivity and courage to my own life!”

“Marie Elise’s platform is very positive, there are many tips and great advice on her stories in learning how to travel easier particularly with visual impairment/ challenges. Marie Elise describes many locations that she visits very well in her stories and there are great reviews of places that she has traveled to on her account. Marie Elise’s profile is very uplifting and she’s making a great impact in the visually impaired community.”

“Marie Elise is an incredible inspiration for the visually impaired community. Through her engaging Instagram page she shares her travel experiences in a way that goes beyond sight offering a fresh perspective on the world. Her videos are filled with practical accessibility advice, thoughtful tips and beautifully detailed descriptions of textures, smells and tastes, making travel more inclusive and enriching. Marie Elise shows that experiencing the world is about so much more than just what we see – she helps others embrace the joy of non-visual elements, inspiring her followers to explore with confidence and excitement.”

I’ve been following Marie Elise for a long time now, especially after my own visual impairment. I actually started talking to Marie when she helped me with my masters dissertation research a few years ago- Marie’s insight (no pun intended) to visual impairment was so important to me, and I am forever grateful. When she started this website I started following her progress even more! I love the content as it is so unique compared to other influencers websites and Instagram

"As someone who is visually impaired with progressive sight loss, Marie’s content is so valuable to me. She makes me think of things outside the sighted world and using other senses and reminds me that beauty is stil all around us, with or wihtout eye sight. I am so glad I found Marie online, she is an inspiration to me and a credit to the sight loss community."

"I really appreciate Marie’s content and look forward to watch her reels and reading her articles. As a person living with a visual impairment myself, I love to learn of the possibilities of travel and adventure beyond my disability. Through Marie’s travel and feedback on access and inclusion, I can obtain really helpful information to help me towards discovering and exploring these great places myself. The other aspect of Marie’s work that I really enjoy, is the emphasis that she puts on enjoying the other senses that we do have, such as sounds, taste and smells."

“Marie’s travel content has been a game-changer for me as a visually impaired traveler. Her thoughtful tips, like choosing quieter accommodations and utilizing tools like Google Street View have made my city trips less overwhelming and more enjoyable. Her Vatican Museums post in particular, opened my eyes to the accessible options I hadn’t even considered like tactile tours and free entry. She also highlights the challenges we face, such as crowd management and lack of readily available information, which helps me feel more prepared. Marie’s insights truly empower me to travel with confidence, knowing that accessibility is possible with the right resources and mindset.”