Non-Visual Mental Model

A cognitive representation of concepts, objects, or systems built through non-visual sensory channels — primarily touch, hearing, and proprioception — rather than through sight. People who are blind develop non-visual mental models that may differ structurally from visual models but can be equally valid and detailed. In education, understanding non-visual mental models is essential for designing effective teaching materials and AI-generated content for students with vision impairments. Generative AI offers potential for creating alternate representations (audio descriptions, tactile-friendly text, simplified explanations) that align with non-visual cognition rather than defaulting to visual-centric formats.