Establishing and Maintaining Orientation

Citation: 
Long, R.G.*, & Giudice, N.A.* (2010). Establishing and Maintaining Orientation for Mobility. In B.B. Blasch, W.R. Wiener, & R.W. Welsh (Eds.), Foundations of Orientation and Mobility (3rd Edition, Vol. 1: History and Theory, PP. 45-62). New York: American Foundation for the Blind. (* equal contribution of authors)
Abstract: 
Most people give little thought to how they navigate, including the information they use when planning and executing routes or re-establishing their orientation when they become disoriented. People with typical vision generally indicate a reliance on visual information, although they may have difficulty identifying the specific information and strategies they use. By contrast, blind individuals rely on non-visual information, often utilizing a different set of strategies to perform the same processes. This chapter discusses Spatial orientation with blind navigators, focusing on four fundamental aspects: information gathering, the use of strategies for following familiar routes, spatial learning and the use of cognitive maps in unfamiliar environments, and the application of strategies to solve spatial problems.
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Comments

This is a chapter in the 3rd

This is a chapter in the 3rd  edition of the “Red book,” the core reference for the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) field. Our goal for the chapter was to merge theories from the spatial cognition literature with O&M techniques to highlight some of the challenges associated with navigating without vision and provide a framework for practical solutions. While the end result was significantly altered throughout the editorial process, the chapter provides a good background of the issues relating to blind/low-vision navigation. Our take home message is that navigation is a spatial problem solving process which would benefit greatly from improvements in technology and teaching of requisite spatial skills.