The significance of space organisation in the realisation of movement and mobility for people with visual disability

Abstract

Architects often present their designed buildings from the angle with the highest potential. But it is the confrontation of that image with the reality, that confirms the true accessibility of the space in question. The priority of the visual experience, which drives the designs, often diminishes the perception of the architecture with other senses. This impacts people with visual disabilities, leading to a deficiency in their spatial orientation. Difficulties in motion lead to the spatial disorientation, the awareness of helplessness in mobility, and the hardship of recognizing the elements of the urban space. This results in the deprivation of the blind and visually impaired from the full usage of the space. The problem is particularly severe, since it pushes the people with visual disabilities into the role of people with movement disorders. The paper presents the object-like borders that appear independently from the design-related activities. The influence of the borders on the sensory and motor deficit will be the main differentiating factor.