The unseen barriers of the built environment: navigation for people with visual impairment

Abstract

The visually impaired community often finds the built environment difficult to navigate. Elements of street design such as street furniture, bollards and shared space are some of the problems that contribute to a hostile built environment. This article aims to investigate how the built environment affects people with a visual impairment through questionnaires, focus groups and interviews conducted with visually impaired people and built-environment professionals. A majority of visually impaired respondents stated the built environment was difficult to navigate, with several issues identified. These issues need to be addressed to create more inclusive spaces and places for all.