05 February 2025
Orientation vs. Navigation – the terms seem similar but they are quite different.
My suspicion is that people who are sighted might confuse the terms. That confusion is less likely for someone who is blind. I’ve occasionally used the term, O&M. That refers to Orientation & Mobility. O&M Instructors are a key element in restoring the independence of someone who is losing their vision.
The first step, as I explained in the How Do I Get Started With Vision Loss post, is to work with a vision rehabilitation teacher. They’ll help you relearn ADL’s. That is, the activities for daily living that you take for granted, when sighted. Once you feel comfortable in your own home, it’s time to get back out in the world. Bring on the O&M Instructor.
Orientation: Knowing where you are and where you’re going. Sometimes that’s as simple as counting doorways in a building when someone says it’s the fourth door on the left. Or perhaps you’re counting city blocks. You’ll learn to use “clock directions” such as turn to 11 o’clock as opposed to go in that direction, which has no meaning when you’re blind.
Mobility: Remembering how to walk in your new world. How you identify obstacles, curbs, and so many more surface features which a sighted person sees.
Do you remember my Assistive Technology Access; Inalienable Right post? Kshoonya believes that an accessible world shouldn’t be limited to people that have enough money to afford clever technology or can buy assistance from others. Everyone should live in an accessible world.
The star of this post is RightHear (see Resources below). Their focus is on making orientation an inalienable right. And their perspective on orientation is quite a bit broader than mine. Borrowing directly from one of their blog posts, navigation is all about taking you from point A to point B. It’s function-specific and goal-oriented. On the other hand, orientation is about understanding where you are. And what’s around you. It’s more about discovery and context.
There are many things most people take for granted. If you’re living in a first world setting, you take fresh drinking water for granted. You probably expect to have the lights come on when you flip a switch. Fresh produce, meats, and fish at the grocery store. But let’s narrow it down a bit.
I bet you also expect to be able to access any public building. And also have no trouble entering most private abodes (into which you’ve been invited). How about going to the bathroom when in a public space – of course!
Have you ever traveled to a country where you don’t speak the language? Ah, now things get a bit dicier. Let’s say you’re in Russia. Is ??????? or ??????? the Men’s restroom? Hmmm.
You’re entering the world of someone who is blind. In fact, the examples above begin to encompass various disability types from mobility impairment to visual impairment and more.
Those examples are all variations on orientation vs. navigation.
The problems above are all challenges RightHear is addressing. You see, people who are blind want to be able to easily do the same things that a person who is sighted takes for granted.
RightHear was founded in 2016. Their focus is on people who are blind or visually impaired. And also those with orientation challenges. But they can also be beneficial to people who may not speak the local language.
They are not a navigation solution. Instead, they focus specifically on indoor sign-based orientation to ensure an equal experience for someone who is blind. Orientation solutions are easier to deploy. They are faster to set up and update. The app is currently available in 26 different languages.
This is the term referenced in one of RightHear’s blog posts. They explain it as follows. Audio format signage is essentially an audible wayfinding system. It provides real-time, contextual information to help people navigate through spaces. Think of it as an audio guide that not only tells you where to go but also gives you a sense of the space you’re in. It’s the missing link between orientation—knowing where you are—and navigation—getting from point A to B.
The app is anonymous and it’s free to the user. The facility pays a modest fee. Why would the facility choose to pay the fee? The short answer is because they’re smart. But here’s the longer answer from another one of their blog posts. You can download it from the App Store on your phone
“For business owners and accessibility experts, the advantages are twofold. First, it enhances customer experience, making their space more welcoming and navigable. Second, it demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, which not only is ethically right but also appeals to a broader customer base.”Navigation Is Important But Orientation Makes You Independent"
It’s great to have the support of friends, family, and other caregivers. But it’s even better to be independent. Or, as the RightHear team says:
“Inclusion starts with accessibility”
“We believe that everyone should feel able, included, and empowered everywhere. Therefore, our aim is to make the world a more accessible place for everyone.”
Source: The Blind Guide
#blind #blindness #visuallyimpaired #accessibility #visualimpairment #sightloss #disability #disabilityawareness #whitecane #lowvision #visualimpaired #orientation #navigation