ACTA

A New Method of Teaching Spatial Orientation to the Blind

E. Hojan^a, M. Jakubowski^b, A. Talukder^b, H. Wereda^b, A. Furmann^a, R. Ewertowski^a, E. Skrodzka^a, P. Perz^a, P. Pękala^a, E. Bogusz^a, H. Lubawy^a, F. Tomaszewski^c, B. Czechyra^c, M. Orczyk^c, G. Szymański^c, M. Niewiarowicz^d, D. Hojan-Jezierska^e and A. Jezierska^f
^a Institute of Acoustics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
^bSpecial School and Educational Centre for Blind Children, Przemysława 9, 62-005 Owińska, Poland
^cInstitute of Combustion Engines and Transportation, Division of Rail Vehicles, Poznań University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 60-965 Poznań, Poland
^d Department of Otolaryngology, Poznań University of Medical Science, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland
^eDepartment of Biophysics, Poznań University of Medical Science, A. Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
^fCentre of Tourism and Recreation Faculty of Geographical and Geological Science, Adam Mickiewicz University, Dzięgielowa 27, 61-614 Poznań, Poland

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Elaboration of a new method of teaching spatial orientation to blind and visually handicapped persons base on urban environment sounds was shown. Task 1 is a questionnaire inquiry on the problems of the blind moving in a big city. In Task 2 a preliminary selection and classification of the acoustic signals and vibrations that can be useful for spatial orientation was made. In Task 3 an analysis of acoustic signals for sound signalisation at pedestrian crossings was made. Some solutions for acoustic signalization were proposed. In Task 4 sounds and vibrations necessary for a library of acoustic events and situations characteristic of a city were recorded. In Task 5 the library was created and arranged to be ready to be used by teachers in the spatial orientation training. The most important outcome of the study was to develop a method of spatial orientation teaching with employment of sounds and verification of the method (Task 6). After verification it is concluded that the method is useful for spatial education of the blind at different levels of their education.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.121.A-5
PACS numbers: 43.66.Yw