Acessibilidade para deficientes visuais: avaliação do desempenho da caminhada em espaços públicos de Pelotas/RS.

Abstract

This research analyzes the displacement of visually impaired people in the urban environment, focusing on the autonomy conditions of users during the process of spatial orientation. In this context, the research problem focuses on how public spaces are planned, such as sidewalks, squares and parks, which, for the most part, do not have adequate accessibility and hinder the spatial orientation of visually impaired users. Among those found in the urban environment, the lack of autonomy in daily activities affects the way the person with visual impairment relates to the world around them, which may interfere or impair the occupational, cognitive and psychological development of those users. The general objective, the study is to propose recommendations for the planning of urban spaces that guarantee the autonomy of the visually impaired. The city of Pelotas was defined as an object of study and a walking interview was used to identify the faces faced by users during the use of spaces. Physical survey and semi-structured interviews were also used as methods. The results show that the performance to perform the walking tasks is influenced by the limitations caused by the precarious signaling of the city areas. It is verified that the lack of autonomy to carry out urban orientation and mobility actions is the main obstacle encountered by the visually impaired in public spaces.