THE CITY THROUGH OTHER SENSES: REVEALING LEVELS OF ACCESSIBILITY FROM THE URBAN EXPERIENCE OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Abstract

This article explores the mobility experiences of people with visual impairments in relation to the accessibility of public space in the city center of Valdivia. Using a qualitative interpretive approach, walking interviews were conducted with six participants to understand their everyday mobility practices and the ways in which they perceive and navigate the urban environment. First, different public spaces are characterized based on mobility experiences. Subsequently, barriers and facilitators that influence access to and use of these spaces are identified. Finally, the subjective and affective construction of the urban environment is examined through the memories and emotions that different urban landmarks evoke in participants.The results show that mobility experiences vary according to the physical and sensory conditions of each spatial setting. While places such as Paseo Costanera and Paseo Libertad are perceived as safe and legible, others such as Arauco Street, Picarte Avenue, and the Bus Terminal are experienced as chaotic and unsafe. In response to these conditions, participants deploy strategies such as choosing alternative routes, adjusting schedules, or relying on support networks to sustain their spatial practices.In this context, mobilities are configured as situated and unequal experiences, in which the urban environment not only shapes possibilities of movement but also the ways in which people perceive, interpret, and engage with the city.