Artūras Bautrėnas, Aliona Buiko, Diana Raudonienė

Feasibility study of orientation for the blind in Vilnius

View full text in PDF format

Abstract

The main provision of the concept of social disability indicates that the situation, which a person with physical or mental disability experiences as a situation with limiting abilities, is created not as much by the compromised physical functions, but by the obstacles in their living – physical and social – environment. These obstacles, not the specific consequences of compromised bodily functions (inability to control extremities, inability to see, etc.) determine whether a person with limited abilities can independently participate in the activities, which normally involve other members of the society. The aim of the study is to map places in Vilnius most frequently visited by the blind, to evaluate the obstacles present in those places and their level of danger, and to create methodology, which could allow facilitating orientation for the blind in such places. During the research, having applied the new technology for tracking the moving direction of the blind and having summarised the data of the survey of the blind, the points of the territory most frequently visited by the blind were determined, a large-scale (1:100) topographic plan of the territory was compiled, and the optimal routes of movement of the blind were determined. Pursuant to the gathered topographic information and analysis of the skills of orientation of the blind, the methodology allowing to assess the mapped territory for orientation from the point of view of its quality and to indicate the zones hazardous for the blind was created. The methodology for provision of information was created and new methods of creation of tactile maps were tested, which will facilitate orientation of the blind in the living environment.

Keywords: cartography; tactile map; blind person; travel “tunnel”.