Accessible Buildings for People with Severe Visual Impairments

摘要

As part of a project to revise and augment the American National Standards Institute ANSI A117.1 standard, this study was conducted to determine appropriate building design for people with severe visual impairments. The individuals chosen for the study were adjudged mentally and emotionally able to participate; each had shown independence in mobility, at least in his / her environment; and each represented a wide range of sight disabilities. The first phase of the study involved an interview and a walk along a prescribed route to determine orientation and mobility problems. A design workshop was held to ascertain those areas of the walk requiring further research and to discover possible solutions. Three design issues identified were (1) warnings of imminent danger, (2) doors in public buildings, and (3) standardized direction finding cues. In the second phase, a laboratory experiment was constructed to test average pace, stopping distance, and tactile floor cue recognition. In the third phase, a new route was made up using the recommendations formulated from the first two phases of the experiment, including the elimination of potentially hazardous objects in or near a path of travel, tactile signals to warn of upcoming falling hazards, and aids and information helpful in direction finding and orientation. Questions raised by the study suggest that criteria for the design of circulation spaces that can help make the built environment more accessible to the visually impaired should be identified; information for those interested in improving orientation and mobility instruction for the blind should be provided; data necessary in the construction of orientation and mobility aids (tactile and audio maps) for the blind should be generated; and the general theory of direction finding and orientation should be expanded. Tables, floor plans, photographs, and the questionnaires used accompany the text.