New methods for studying blind children's understanding of familiar space

Lewis, V; Collis, G; Shadlock, R; Potts, M; Norgate, SH

Abstract

Two previous studies have indicated that until the teenage years blind children understand the relationships between familiar locations in and around their home in terms of the routes between them rather than in terms of straight line directions. Given the practical implications of these findings, it is important that they are replicated. The present paper describes some new ways of exploring blind children's understanding of space and reports some preliminary data from three blind children, two severely visually impaired children and a small group of sighted children. These data indicate that blind children can understand the straight line relationships between different locations at a younger age than previously reported. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Citation

Lewis, V., Collis, G., Shadlock, R., Potts, M., & Norgate, S. (2002). New methods for studying blind children's understanding of familiar space. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 20(1), 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/026461960202000104

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2002
• Deposit Date: Aug 3, 2007
• Journal: British Journal of Visual Impairment
• Print ISSN: 0264-6196
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 17-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026461960202000104
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026461960202000104