A study of environmental perception patterns of the visually impaired and environmental design

Blind or visually impaired people use senses other than vision to obtain spatial information and to solve the problem of wayfinding. Therefore, the conditions of the physical environment can have a profound impact on their wayfinding performance. In this study, we use Q methodology to investigate the correlation between the subjective awareness and physical environment of the blind or visually impaired people. The outcomes of this study indicate that habits and experiences are sufficient and required for environmental perceptions. Architectural elements in the environment can provide the blinds or visually impaired people with a 2D plane and 3D spatial and functional significances. The most effective architectural element provides clues which can include: changes in materials, the level of the terrain slope, the arrangement of architectural elements for obstacle perception, appropriate space for creating echoes, and the order of architectural elements. Environmental designers are expected to create a friendly environment for the blinds or visually impaired people by optimally using the architectural elements in the designed environment based on the study outcomes.