Spatial inferences of visually impaired individuals concerning wayfinding: a case study of Istanbul’s Kadikoy area

The Phenomenological approach of the research addresses the micro problems of visually impaired individuals regarding wayfinding in a familiar large-scale environment. The paper’s main objective is to understand how a large-scale urban context becomes familiar to a visually impaired individual. Also, it explores the impact of environmental cognition on enhancing visually impaired individuals’ spatial inferences in wayfinding. Cognitive mapping, as an effective method of wayfinding, has been used to improve these individuals independence and mobility capability in wayfinding. The paper’s conceptual framework queries pessimistic views elaborated initially by the (Fletcher, 1980) theory and underlying in most studies (implicitly or explicitly) about the spatial abilities of visually impaired individuals, both congenitally and adventitiously adult ones, concerning deficiency, inefficiency, and also difference model in a real, local example. Accordingly, based on the qualitative research method, in-situ fieldwork in the Istanbul Kadikoy area was conducted, where the Visually Impaired Association, a familiar place for all participants, is located. Eleven congenitally and adventitiously visually impaired individuals participated during the fieldwork. The subjects' wayfinding manner was monitored from the Eminonu-Kadikoy pier to the Association (approximately 650 m). Accordingly, they were asked to draw their cognitive maps. Furthermore, photo–video documentation was collected during the drawing. Based on the findings of participants' cognitive maps, spatial inferences of them, no matter whether congenital or adventitiously vision-impaired, were determined with almost similar marked points in the aerial map; even more details stood out from participants' piecemeal exploration habits. Based on the findings of the cognitive maps, the study highlights the difference model of Fletcher. It emphasizes that visually impaired individuals use different methods of wayfinding. The review intends to ensure vision-impaired individuals' strong intuition cognition in finding their way. This feature reveals a framework for interpreting the significance of non-visual perception and environmental cognition as well as visual perception and spatial cognition acquisition in urban planning designs.