Spatial Orientation and Navigation

The set of skills and strategies used to understand one's position in space, plan routes, and travel from one location to another. For blind and low-vision individuals, spatial orientation and navigation involves using non-visual cues — sound, touch, proprioception, environmental landmarks, and increasingly AI-powered tools — to identify locations, determine direction, and navigate safely. SON tasks include finding specific buildings, locating landmarks, identifying vehicles like buses, and understanding the spatial layout of unfamiliar environments.