Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Questions regarding blind individuals and geography (self.Blind)
submitted by johnnytcomo
I'm curious as to how individuals who have been blind from birth *think* about geography, and perceive things that seeing people may take for granted, such as maps, large-scale distances or the scale of the planet itself.
* In contrast to typical descriptions that include references to sight, vision, or seeing, how would you describe how you perceive space, time and distance?
* Have you ever used, or do you have access to Braille tactile maps?
* If not, how do you perceive maps, certain regions of the world, or the planet itself?
* What comes to mind when you hear the term "Geography"?
* Do you think you perceive distance the same way, or differently than a seeing person?
​
I really think answers to questions like this can potentially help inspire innovation in this area, and lead to making maps for blind individuals more readily available and more easily accessible. So thank you for any thoughtful responses.
* In contrast to typical descriptions that include references to sight, vision, or seeing, how would you describe how you perceive space, time and distance?
* Have you ever used, or do you have access to Braille tactile maps?
* If not, how do you perceive maps, certain regions of the world, or the planet itself?
* What comes to mind when you hear the term "Geography"?
* Do you think you perceive distance the same way, or differently than a seeing person?
​
I really think answers to questions like this can potentially help inspire innovation in this area, and lead to making maps for blind individuals more readily available and more easily accessible. So thank you for any thoughtful responses.
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Depends on the person. Blind from a young age about 8 and never saw enough to do it visually. I like it. For me it’s more of a kinesthetic or a proprioception type thing. I am very spacial about it. I see geography as a tactile exercise I love tactile maps if it is big enough and not confusing. The smaller ones can be cramped and confusing. I like bigger more zoomed in maps or big picture type map here’s the map of the us and here’s the states.
For example I am in cali. So that’s a square cali is like an l but for this exercise I will boil it down to squares. Then oregon is the tile above it then washington. Then to the right of it is nevada then to the left is the pacific. Then to the right of nevada is arizona then to the right of this is new mexico and to the right is texas. Above nevada is utah. I memorize it like that.
For instance that’s how I do countries too
With streets I do it like being there it’s all kinesthetics and proprioception. I am now on bellflower blvd in front of me is willow a few streets behind is spring a little street behind me is 28th. Then there’s a little one nameD LOS ALTOS GATEWAY. I sort of feel it spacially and me being there. It’s sort of weird but I do it.
For example I am in cali. So that’s a square cali is like an l but for this exercise I will boil it down to squares. Then oregon is the tile above it then washington. Then to the right of it is nevada then to the left is the pacific. Then to the right of nevada is arizona then to the right of this is new mexico and to the right is texas. Above nevada is utah. I memorize it like that.
For instance that’s how I do countries too
With streets I do it like being there it’s all kinesthetics and proprioception. I am now on bellflower blvd in front of me is willow a few streets behind is spring a little street behind me is 28th. Then there’s a little one nameD LOS ALTOS GATEWAY. I sort of feel it spacially and me being there. It’s sort of weird but I do it.
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
I don’t care about that stuff honestly.
I can see objects in my head and do kind of find sight interesting as a topic but don’t care much about how far away France and the UK are from each other on a map.
I got to use braille map key things in school, they worked for hat they were used for.
I can see objects in my head and do kind of find sight interesting as a topic but don’t care much about how far away France and the UK are from each other on a map.
I got to use braille map key things in school, they worked for hat they were used for.
retrolental_morose 1 points 2y ago
I need to come back to this thread when I've got a keyboard and some time.
I have no sight and wasn't allowed to study geography at school, so will contribute from that starting point later today.
I have no sight and wasn't allowed to study geography at school, so will contribute from that starting point later today.
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