Disability

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Relationship with the World Around Us and the Sense of Self

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” -Aristotle

In order for us to understand anything, we have to understand ourselves; to get a perception of our sense of self. The way we come to know ourselves is through the people around us and the environment we are surrounded by.

An exchange between oneself and the environment, oneself and another and oneself with his/her spirit is necessary for one to get an understanding of who they are.

Balance is key.

Through nature, we understand our existence. We need food to survive along with a healthy place to inhabit. There is a relationship between humans and the rest of nature. It should be a relationship were equally is taken and equally is given.

Through others, we also understand our existence. We need one another in order to live. A negative encounter with someone can change everything about us. As humans, we feed off of other people. For example, someone can give you a hug and change your mood in an instant.  Humans give and take from each other.

Through the spirits, we also understand our existence. We need to be at peace with our spirits. We connect with our spirit through faith or meditation. In most occasions, this requires alone time. The spirit must be given time in order to offer peace.

Balance is key.

How do we perform these exchanges? Through our senses, of course. All knowledge is achieved through the senses.  Our sensory experiences lie deep within each one of us. Through sensory experiences, humans are able to imagine sights, sounds and feelings. With the perception of others and the environment, our inner experiences are deepened and people tend to develop a sense of appreciation, which adds value to life.

Sense of Self...

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. -Aristotle

What does it mean to know yourself?
Is that how to find peace?



A sense of self.

Poetry

Nightmares.

Walking in shadows.

What are you most afraid of?

Is it all wrong?

There is light all around you.

While sitting in the dark. 

It's not a dead end street. 

Let go.

Open your eyes.

What is there to Gain with a loss?

Importance of Children

Children are always on my mind. I can't stop thinking about them. Whether it is my 2 year old cousin, the children in my community or the kids around the world; they hold a special place in my heart. There is happiness that I receive from their presence. The world seems perfect when I spend time with them. Nothing else matters. My heart yearns to be with kids. It yearns to help them, to teach them and to make them smile. When I give my time to children, I gain so much more. You receive so much when you give. They usually don’t expect much from people. They accept people just as they are. They long for our presence. When we spend time with kids, we show them that communication is important. We show them that interaction is important. Most significantly, we show them that love is important. There are so many children who are neglected and mistreated; many children who are suffering, with no one to care for them. Who do they run to? Who is responsible for them? Are there people who know how to help? Sometimes assistance can hinder people even more. It is important to become aware of the needs of children because they are the future. I think that the disabled and displaced children need a little bit more attention and care. They should be given equal opportunities to grow and learn. How can design aid in offering better opportunities for disabled and displaced children? To me, the two most significant places for children are their homes and their schools- the places where they grow and learn. If physical limitations are eliminated for the disabled or displaced children, they will be given the freedom to grow and learn. If more people are given the opportunities to experience life to the fullest and given the opportunities to be educated, a brighter future will be closer. That is the goal. 

Education & Statistics

I started to do some research on the types of learning and the statistics of the blind and visually impaired:

Three types of main learning: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. The majority of learners are kinesthetic. 

Environments that heighten one's senses have shown to make a positive impact on those that are depressed, stressed or disabled. 

Many individuals who have visual impairments are learning in the same environments as sighted individuals. How does that impact their education?

How can the visually impaired be educated at a young age so that they are not as dependent on others throughout the rest of their lives?

Case Studies

I did three case studies for my thesis. I compared three different buildings- one that is designed for the average user, one that is designed for the disabled and one that is designed specifically for the blind & visually impaired.

This one is designed for the average user:

 This one is designed for the disabled:

 This one is designed for the blind and visually impaired:

Something to think about

Architecture has the capacity to be inspiring, engaging and life-enhancing. But why is it that architectural schemes which look good on the drawing board or the computer screen can be so disappointing ‘in the flesh’? -Steven Holl

Thesis Task 1 - 10.25.13

I had to illustrate, through graphics and a written essay, my thesis statement and purpose of research. 

 

I decided to design three eye charts with a different message on each one. 

The first one on the left is how a person with Cataract Disease would see. It reads: "Independence and freedom, along with safety, are what blind & visually impaired want in order to live a life without limitations because of their disability. What if it was you with this disability. What would you ask designers to do to make your life better?" 

The middle chart is how a person with Diabetic Retinopathy would see. It reads: "Engage all possible senses to increase a multi sensory experience for everyone. Make a difference in the world for the blind & visually impaired today through design. How are you going to help spread social awareness today on blindness and visual impairment?" 

The last chart is how someone with Glaucoma would see. It reads: "Architecture beyond vision to create equality between blind & visually impaired. The blind & visually impaired can still imagine what a space looks like with other senses. Will you do anything to help spread social awareness today on blind and visual impairment?

It is very difficult to see the smaller words, or even see any of the letters with these eye diseases. It is easy for sighted individuals to forget because they don't see life through that perspective. 

Under the charts, there is a collage of key words related to my research. Some of the words are: hear, smell, tough, safety, wayfinding, memory, multi-sensory, etc. 

There is also a tactile floor plan on the table. The purpose of this is for people to close their eyes and try to memorize the plan and try to draw it from memory. This is exactly what a blind person has to do- memorize the plan through their other senses and navigate through what the can remember. There is also a materials palette for people to touch with their eyes closed and try to make out what each material is. 

Another element in my presentation was an audio clip of a hotel lobby in Las Vegas. The purpose of this was for people to listen to it and try to figure out where they would be. If you listened very carefully, you would be able to tell where you were. There was a sound a slot machine in the distance, and there was an elevator noise. Even though there were these clues, out of 18 people, no one was able to figure it out. This goes to show how difficult it must be to try to navigate as a blind individual. 

"Open your eyes. Open your minds. Engage your senses."

Thoughts for Today - Typology

How did we come to know what we know? We come to know the truth through our senses. Our senses are our learning tools. As children, we innocently touch or even bite everything that comes our way in order to gain an understanding of our environment. Playgrounds are very exciting places for kids because they demand that the users engage their senses and interact socially with their surroundings. As we get older, we still have the need for sensory engagement but we tend to hold back due to past experiences and fear. 

The goal is to design sensory rich environments that will be more moving, without being stressful. There is so much that we can learn just by looking. According to Chris Downey, a blind architect, 80% of our sensory experience is visual. There is a strong dependence on the visual sense, but how about our experiences on a hot day? Not only do we see the sun shining bright, but we can also feel the warmth on our skin. How about on a rainy day? Not only do we feel the rain drops, but we can hear them falling onto the roofs of buildings and we are also able to smell the rain. How about walking into your mother’s kitchen as she’s making dinner? Not only can you smell the sweet aroma, but you can also taste the food. These are images in our minds that all people can visualize, blind or not. The senses give us something to remember. When all of the accessible senses are engaged, our experiences are enhanced. It is very difficult to photograph acoustics, smell or touch, but it is hard to forget the distinctive things we hear, smell and touch.

To me, the most important space for every individual is their place of learning. If people are taught to use their senses to understand their surroundings during their educational journey, they are likely to continue using their senses throughout the rest of their lives. As I investigate the typology of my project, it makes sense to design an educational facility. If people are taught in multi sensory spaces, not only will their memories of those spaces be more positive, but they will also be learning more. With positive experiences, more people will be excited about learning. With multi-sensory spaces, people with disabilities are given the opportunity to explore and learn. Sensory rich environments give people the opportunity to expand their knowledge to the fullest and create positive memories of spaces. 

Quote of the Day

The challenge is that while still on paper, architects must travel through the space in their mind's eye, imagining reality fulfilling the desires of all senses. -Anila Angjeli

Thesis Essay

My thesis is the perception of architecture beyond vision. The question is how to enhance the other senses and create a similar experience between a blind and sighted individual. With the absence of the visual sense, the other senses are heightened.

There are 285 million people worldwide who are blind or visually impaired (IAPB). The disabled are often forgotten about. Buildings are designed for the average person. The blind and visually impaired spend the most amount of time in spaces that are accustomed to them, like their homes, because of the difficulty in navigating. Many blind people only use a cane to inform others of their visual impairment, in case they run into people while walking. Is this the way things should be?

The goal is to provide the blind and visually impaired with similar experiences as sighted individuals. The average person’s dependence of the visual sense leads to the neglection of the other senses. How can architecture be experienced using all of the possible senses? With the use of other senses, new perspectives arise along with more absorption and awareness of surroundings.

 Aesthetics are critical, but what about people who cannot see? The blind and visual impaired can still imagine what a space looks like with the use of other senses. The experience of a space through a blind person’s perspective is similar to that of a sighted person’s perspective. A blind person can feel the sense of the space with the temperature of the space and the airflow. Also, the way sound travels through a space can give a blind person an idea of what the space is like. With the use of natural sources like lighting and air, the experience of a blind person can be improved.

Critical factors for any person are safety and security. How much more important is it for someone who cannot see? If a space is operable and convenient for a blind person, it is presumably going to be suitable for every other person. I design to make a difference, not just for the blind or visually impaired, but for everyone. If people are able to heighten their sense, their experiences through spaces will be more positive.

NSAD’s mission statement challenges me to push beyond my expectations and be able to think critically about a problem that many people disregard. By questioning what works and what doesn’t work, I start to learn by problem solving. My thesis will help people see things differently. Through design, social awareness on the blind and disabled can amplify.

With research and exploring what will better accommodate blind and visually impaired people, spaces are designed to make wayfinding more convenient. With the use of technology and different materials, it is possible for all of the senses to be engaged. Spaces can be designed to give visually impaired people more independence and freedom and also give them a better connection to their community. It is liberating for a blind or visually impaired person to be able to navigate on their own. More people will be able to get involved and this will help the urban concerns of today. By enhancing people’s multi sensory experiences through spaces, more communal participation will arise.

Purpose

I design to inspire people and make a difference in this world.


The purpose of this blog is to record and share my process throughout my thesis project. My thesis is the perception of architecture beyond the visual sense.


Feedback is appreciated!