Mental Map

An internal cognitive representation of a physical environment, including spatial relationships, landmarks, routes, and distances. For people with blindness or visual impairments, building a mental map of a route before traveling is a critical strategy for independent mobility, often achieved through accessible navigation apps, verbal descriptions, or tactile maps. Research has shown that the ability to construct a mental map beforehand significantly increases confidence and willingness to travel independently. Mental maps are a key concept in Orientation and Mobility training and in the design of assistive navigation technologies.