YASHWANT VIDYAPITH’S

SMT. PREMALATAI CHAVAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

WAGHERI, KARAD.

ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT (THESIS)

ON

CENTRE FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY

BY

SHUBHAM C. JOSHI
( FOURTH YEAR B.ARCH 2018-19)

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

PROF. DEEPAK BHAGATE

FACULTY IN-CHARGE
PROF.
PROF.

SHIVAJI UNIVERSITY, KOLHAPUR

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DECLARATION

I , SHUBHAM C. JOSHI , declare that this Architectural Synopsis is carried out entirely by me
under the guidance of PROF. DEEPAK BHAGATE of the SMT. Premalatai Chavan College of
Architecture, Vagheri, Karad. This work has not been presented, either wholly or partly, for any
academic work elsewhere before.

All sources of scholarly information used in this synopsis are duly acknowledged.

SHUBHAM JOSHI

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to acknowledge the help and support given to me by the following individuals, for the
completion of the project.

I would like to thank our principle AR. Dadasaheb Chaughule & Head of the Department Prof.
……… for providing me opportunity to learn in such a reputed college.

My research work without the help of my mentor was impossible. I would like to thank my
internal guide Prof. Deepak Bhagate for guiding me with his valuable inputs. His thoughtful
comments helped me to understand the topic in detail.

I would also like to thank faculty in-charge Prof………. & Prof. ……… for their guidance and
constant encouragement.

SHUBHAM JOSHI

FOURTH YEAR .

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INDEX

1 .INTRODUCTION

2. AIM

3. OBJECTIVES

4. NEED OF THE PROJECT

5. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

6. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

7. LITREATURE REVIEW

8. SENSES AND ARCHITECTURE

9. METHODOLOGY

10. ANALYSIS

11. INFERENCE

12. CONCLUSION
13. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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 INTRODUCTION :

 THE WORD 'BLIND' OR 'VISUALLY IMPAIRED' CREATES A NEGATIVE SENSE, A SENSE OF LOSS. VISUAL
IMPAIRED PEOPLE LACK THE VISUAL PERCEPTION (PARTIAL OR COMPLETE) OF THE WORLD AROUND
THEM BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THEIR OTHER SENSES GET HEIGHTENED, MAKING THEM SPECIAL IN A
DIFFERENT WAY. VISUAL PERCEPTION ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 85% OF THE COMPLETE PERCEPTION
THAT A PERSON HAS. MAIN REASON FOR SUCH A DIFFERENCE IS ACTIVE RECEPTION THAT THE VISION
HAS. FOR ANY OTHER PERCEPTION ONE HAS TO MAKE EFFORT IN BUILDING A CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE RECEPTOR AND OBJECT TO BE PERCEIVED, WHEREAS IN THE CASE OF VISION, THIS CONNECTION IS
VERY EASILY ESTABLISHED.
 THE MAIN IDEA BEHIND THE CENTRE FOR NON-VISUAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IS TO CREATE A
SPACE AND PROGRAM WHICH TEACHES THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO ENHANCE THEIR OTHER SENSORY
PERCEPTION AND BE ABLE TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE TO LIVE NORMALLY IN THE
SOCIETY. BRINGING TOGETHER THE EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL AND RESEARCH FACILITY WOULD
HELP EACH AGE GROUP TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND BUILD A COMMUNITY OF THEIR OWN.
 THE MAIN INTENT IS TO TREAT VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE AS SOMEONE HAVING A DIFFERENT
ABILITY, BUT NOT DISABILITY. THEY LACK ONLY ONE OF THE MANY SENSES THAT EXIST BUT THE MAIN
POINT IS TO WORK ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE WHOLE PICTURE, WHICH IS THE HYPER ACTIVATION
OF OTHER SENSES.
 DOESN'T INTEND TO DESIGN A SPACE WHICH COMPENSATES THE LOSS OF VISION, BUT SPACE WHICH
HAS ITS CONCEPT ROOTED IN DEVELOPING THE STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR OTHER REMAINING SENSES.
PLANNING OF SPACES WHICH HELPS THEM IN NAVIGATION AND ACCOMMODATION IS NOT THE ONLY
THING REQUIRED, BUT THERE IS ALSO A REQUIREMENT OF SPACES AND FUNCTIONS WHICH TAKES
THEM BEYOND THEIR LIMITATIONS WHICH THE LACK OF VISUAL IMPOSES. IT'S A CENTRE FOR NON-
VISUAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AND NOT A CENTRE OF VISUAL EDUCATION THROUGH NON-
VISUAL MEDIUM (BECAUSE THERE IS A LOSS OF THE VISUAL). BARRIER FREE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE
WHICH ENABLES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO MOVE ABOUT SAFELY AND FREELY AND TO USE
THEFACILITIES WITHIN.THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
 THE BARRIER FREE DESIGN IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE INDEPENDENT
FUNCTIONING OF INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO, AND PARTICIPATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE,
IN EVERY DAY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES, COMMUNITY LIVING,
EMPLOYMENT,AND LEISURE. THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES WHICH HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED IN
DEVELOPINGSTANDARDS / NORMS FOR VARIOUS FACILITIES TOMEET DISABLED PEOPLE’S STANDARDS
FOR SAFETY, CONVENIENCE AND USABILITY. BARRIER FREE DESIGN STANDARDS SHOULD SATISFY
ANYONE WHO IS HAMPERED IN HIS MOBILITYOR FUNCTIONING (AS COMPARED WITH A NONDISABLED
PERSON) AS A RESULT OF OBSTACLES PUT IN HIS WAY BY THE DESIGN OF A BUILDING, THE CHOICE OF
HARDWARE AND EQUIPMENT, AND THE ARRANGEMENT OF OUTSIDE SPACE.

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 AIM:

THE MAIN AIM BEHIND THE CENTRE IS TO CREAT A SPACE AND BRINGING TOGETHER THE
EDUCATONAL, VOCATIONAL AND RESEARCH FACILITY THAT WOULD HELP EACH AGE GROUP TO
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND ALSO IMPLIMENT SUCH KIND OF DESIGN IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING
URBANISATION.

 OBJECTIVES:
TO STUDY THE GUIDELINES AND SPACE STANDERDS REGARDING VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE.

TO STUDY THE NON VISUAL LANGUAGE FOR BETTER DESIGN.

TO STUDY THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY.

TO STUDY UNIVERSAL DESIGN STANDERDS AND BARRIER FREE DESIGN STANDERDS.

USE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL AND LANDCAPE FOR EFFICTIVE DESIGN.

TO STUDY THE UNIQUE AND COMMON KEY FEACTURES OF DESIGN WHICH WILL BE USE GLOBALLY.

 NEED OF THE PROJECT

 THERE IS BASIC SUPPORT, INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES, THAT ARE NEED TO BE PROVIDED TO THESE
PEOPLE, ONLY THEN, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY.
 ALSO THERE IS A NEED OF UNIVERSAL OR BARRIER FREE DESIGN FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HIGHTENT
THEIR SENSES.
 TO REDUCE THE RATIO OF BLIND PERSONS WICH HAS 1 IN 80 IN INDIA AND OUR CONTRIBUTION
TOWARDS NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS (NPCB).

 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

 SCOPE OF THE DESIGN IS LIMITED TO BLIND COMMUNITY ONLY.
 THE DESIGN IS UNDER BARRIER FREE DESIGN , UNIVERSAL DESIGN CATEGORY.
 LIMITATIONS REGARDING DESIGN STANDARDS OF SPACES.
 DESIGN ENCORPORATE THE BASIC NEEDS OF BLIND COMMUNITY.
 USE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL AND LANDCAPE FOR BETTER DESIGN .
 THE DESIGN PROGRAMME IS LIMITED TO HUMAN BEINGS ONLY AND LAWS REGARDING CONSTRUCTION
IS LIMITED TO INDIA COUNTRY.

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 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :
 IT HAS LONG BEEN ASSUMED THAT IN THE ANCIENT WORLD THE BLIND ENJOYED FEW OPPORTUNITIES
AND LIVED OUT THEIR DAYS IN PENURY AS BEGGARS OR AS WARDS OF THEIR FAMILIES IN THE
ABSENCE OF ANY SYSTEMATIC STATE OR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE
LIVES OF BLIND PEOPLE IN THE PREMODERN WESTERN WORLD IS EXTREMELY LIMITED, AND IT IS
STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY LITERARY OR RELIGIOUS TEXTS. TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATIONS OF
CLASSICAL LITERARY REPRESENTATIONS HOLD THAT BLINDNESS IS A PUNISHMENT FOR SOCIAL OR
RELIGIOUS TRANSGRESSIONS OR, ALTERNATIVELY, IS THE PRICE ONE PAYS TO GAIN SPIRITUAL VISION
AND INSIGHT. OEDIPUS IS OFTEN CITED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FORMER, WHILE TIRESIAS MAY BE
SEEN AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE LATTER.

 REFERENCES TO BLIND PERSONS IN CLASSICAL GREEK LITERATURE DESCRIBE BLINDNESS AS

OCCURRING THROUGH ACCIDENT, THROUGH WARFARE, OR AS PUNISHMENT FOR SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS
TRANSGRESSIONS. TODAY IT IS KNOWN, HOWEVER, THAT ONLY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF CASES OF
BLINDNESS RESULT FROM ACCIDENTS, AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT
ACCIDENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CAUSE OF BLINDNESS FOR THOSE LIVING IN ANCIENT
GREECE OR ROME. WITH SO FEW EXAMPLES TO DRAW ON, MOST OF WHICH FALSELY PORTRAY
BLINDNESS AS OCCURRING FROM ACCIDENT, LITERARY SOURCES DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE
EVIDENCE ON WHICH TO BASE BROAD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT EITHER HOW THE BLIND LIVED OR HOW
THE BLIND WERE POPULARLY PERCEIVED AS A CLASS BY THEIR CONTEMPORARIES.

 RELIGIOUS TEXTS OF THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS SIMILARLY PROVIDE LITTLE
KNOWLEDGE OF ACTUAL BLIND PEOPLE DURING THE CENTURIES ON EITHER SIDE OF JESUS’ BIRTH.
BIBLICAL SCHOLARS DEBATE WHETHER BLINDNESS IS TO BE INTERPRETED IN EITHER SPIRITUAL OR
CORPOREAL TERMS. SOME NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLARS BELIEVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT DEPICTIONS OF
JESUS HEALING THE BLIND ARE MEANT TO BE SEEN AS CURING SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, NOT PHYSICAL
BLINDNESS. NONETHELESS, ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL DEPICTIONS OF THE BLIND AS EITHER SINNERS OR
SAINTS PERSISTED INTO THE MODERN ERA IN THE WEST AND CONTINUED TO BE THE SUBJECTS OF
RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY.

 DURING THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES IN EUROPE, PHILOSOPHERS
INTRODUCED NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT BLINDNESS AND THE NATURE OF THE BLIND, MOVING THE
CONVERSATION AWAY FROM STRICTLY SPIRITUAL QUESTIONS TOWARD RATIONAL INTERPRETATIONS
OF UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE. SCHOLARS DEBATED WHETHER OR NOT THE BLIND WERE
MORE LIKELY TO BE ATHEISTS AS A RESULT OF THEIR PRESUMED BITTERNESS AGAINST GOD OVER
THEIR CONDITION. OTHERS ARGUED THAT THE BLIND WERE CLOSER TO GOD, AS THEY WERE SPARED
THE BURDEN OF EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR BLINDNESS.

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 LITERATURE REVIEW :

 DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF VISUAL IMPAIREDNESS

 BLINDNESS:

 BLINDNESS IS THE CONDITION OF LACKING VISUAL PERCEPTION DUE TO PHYSIOLOGICAL OR

NEUROLOGICAL FACTORS. VARIOUS SCALES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO DESCRIBE THE EXTENT OF
VISION LOSS AND DEFINE BLINDNESS. TOTAL BLINDNESS IS THE COMPLETE LACK OF FORM AND VISUAL
LIGHT PERCEPTION AND IS CLINICALLY RECORDED AS NLP, AN ABBREVIATION FOR "NO LIGHT
PERCEPTION. "BLINDNESS IS FREQUENTLY USED TO DESCRIBE SEVERE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WITH
RESIDUAL VISION. THOSE DESCRIBED AS HAVING ONLY LIGHT PERCEPTION HAVE NO MORE SIGHT
THAN THE ABILITY TO TELL LIGHT FROM DARK AND THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF A LIGHT SOURCE.
(VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS, 2013)
 WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION CLASSIFIES VISUAL FUNCTIONS IN CATEGORIES ARE:
NORMAL VISION
MODERATE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
BLINDNESS
 THERE ARE FEW TERMS WHICH OFTEN OCCUR OR ARE USED WHEN DESCRIBING OR WORKING WITH
VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND.

 VISION LOSS :

 REFERS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TROUBLE SEEING, EVEN WHEN WEARING GLASSES OR CONTACT
LENSES, AS WELL AS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR UNABLE TO SEE AT ALL.

 SELF-REPORTED VISION LOSS :

 IT IS DETERMINED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS BASED ON THAT PERSON'S PERCEIVED VISUAL ABILITY

AND ITS EFFECT ON DAILY FUNCTIONING.

 LEGAL BLINDNESS :

 IT IS A LEVEL OF VISION LOSS THAT HAS BEEN LEGALLY DEFINED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR
BENEFITS. THE CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS REFERS TO A CENTRAL VISUAL ACUITY OF 20/200 OR LESS IN THE
BETTER EYE WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE CORRECTION, AND/OR A VISUAL FIELD OF 20 DEGREES OR LESS.
OFTEN, PEOPLE WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH LEGAL BLINDNESS STILL HAVE SOME USEABLE VISION.
 THE CONCEPT OF LEGAL BLINDNESS AROSE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS.
THE TERM LEGAL BLINDNESS IS GENERALLY USED BY GOVERNMENTS TO DETERMINE THE CRITERIA BY
WHICH A PERSON IS DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT CONCESSIONS, SUCH AS INCOME.

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 TOTAL BLINDNESS :

 IT REFERS TO AN INABILITY TO SEE ANYTHING WITH EITHER EYE. LOW VISION: IT IS A TERM OFTEN
USED INTERCHANGEABLY WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND REFERS TO A LOSS OF VISION THAT MAY BE
SEVERE ENOUGH TO H'NDER AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO COMPLETE DAILY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
READING, COOKING, OR WALKING OUTSIDE SAFELY, WHILE STILL RETAINING SOME DEGREE OF
USEABLE VISION.

 VISUAL IMPAIRMENT :
 IT IS OFTEN DEFINED CLINICALLY AS A VISUAL ACUITY OF 20/70 OR WORSE IN THE BETTER EYE WITH
BEST CORRECTION, OR A TOTAL FIELD LOSS OF 140 DEGREES. ADDITIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCING
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT MIGHT BE CONTRAST SENSITIVITY, LIGHT SENSITIVITY, GLARE SENSITIVITY, AND
LIGHT/DARK ADAPTATION.
 OF THE 37 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE WHO ARE BLIND, OVER 15 MILLION ARE FROM INDIA
75% OF THESE ARE AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS. INDIA NEEDS 40,000 OPTOMETRISTS
IT HAS ONLY 8000.
 ON THE OTHER HAND, INDIA NEEDS 2.5 LAKH DONATED EYES EVERY YEAR, THE CONTRY’S 109 BANKS
(FIVE IN DELHI) MANAGE TO COLLECT MAXIMUM OF JUST 25000 EYES, 30% OF WHICH CAN’T BE USED.

 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRAILLE

LOUIS BRAILLE, A STUDENT AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND (NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR BLIND
CHILDREN) IN PARIS IN THE 1820S, TOOK A RAISED-DOT SYSTEM OF CODE BROUGHT TO THE SCHOOL IN 1821
AND TURNED IT INTO THE MOST-IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT IN BLIND EDUCATION. CHARLES BARBIER, A
SIGHTED FRENCH MILITARY OFFICER, HAD INVENTED A RAISED-DOT SYSTEM THAT WAS INTENDED TO ALLOW
OFFICERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE DARK. THE FRENCH ARMY NEVER ADOPTED THE
SYSTEM, NOR DID THE PARIS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, AT FIRST. HOWEVER, LOUIS BRAILLE REDUCED THE
SYSTEM PROPOSED BY BARBIER TO SIX DOTS, MAKING IT RELATIVELY SIMPLE TO READ WITH THE FINGERTIPS,
AND CREATED A SYSTEM OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SHORTHAND SYMBOLS THAT WOULD ALLOW THE BLIND TO
READ AT A MUCH FASTER RATE. THE DOTS LOOKED NOTHING LIKE THE ROMAN LETTERS THEY REPLACED, BUT
THE SYSTEM WAS MUCH EASIER FOR THE BLIND TO READ. THE SCHOOL REJECTED BRAILLE’S SYSTEM, IN PART
BECAUSE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WERE RELUCTANT TO REPLACE ALL THE RAISED-ALPHABET VOLUMES
CREATED AT GREAT EXPENSE UNDER HAÜY AND HIS SUCCESSORS. BRAILLE WAS A TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL,
HOWEVER, AND TAUGHT HIS SYSTEM TO HIS BLIND STUDENTS. BY THE TIME OF BRAILLE’S DEATH IN 1852, THE
SCHOOL HAD FINALLY ACCEPTED THE SUPERIOR BRAILLE METHOD OF TRANSCRIPTION.

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LOUIS BRAILLE, PORTRAIT BUST BY AN UNKNOWN ARTIST.ARCHIV FÜR KUNST UND GESCHICHTE, BERLIN

BRAILLE’S SYSTEM ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE BLIND TO BE TEACHERS OF THE BLIND, FURTHER
STRENGTHENING RESISTANCE TO THE RAISED-DOT SYSTEM BY SIGHTED TEACHERS. THE INTRODUCTION OF
BRAILLE NOT ONLY REVOLUTIONIZED EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND, IT ALLOWED THE BLIND TO COMMUNICATE
WITH ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT SIGHTED INTERVENTION. A COMMUNITY OF BLIND ALUMNI DEVELOPED, AND
THE BLIND BEGAN TO PUBLISH THEIR OWN STORIES IN THE FORM OF MEMOIRS INTENDED TO CAPTURE THE
INTEREST OF A SIGHTED READERSHIP. SUCH NARRATIVES WERE A COMBINATION OF RELIGIOUS INSPIRATION
AND CAPTIVATINGDETAILS ABOUT THE LIVES OF BLIND PEOPLE.

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 HEALTH EFFECTS
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS MAY TAKE MANY FORMS AND BE OF VARYING DEGREES. VISUAL ACUITY ALONE IS
NOT ALWAYS A GOOD PREDICTOR OF THE DEGREE OF PROBLEMS A PERSON MAY HAVE. SOMEONE WITH
RELATIVELY GOOD ACUITY (E.G., 20/40) CAN HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH DAILY FUNCTIONING, WHILE SOMEONE
WITH WORSE ACUITY (E.G., 20/200) MAY FUNCTION REASONABLY WELL IF THEIR VISUAL DEMANDS ARE NOT
GREAT.
THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS ESTIMATED THAT THE LOSS OF ONE EYE EQUALS 25%
IMPAIRMENT OF THE VISUAL SYSTEM AND 24% IMPAIRMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSON; TOTAL LOSS OF VISION IN
BOTH EYES IS CONSIDERED TO BE 100% VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND 85% IMPAIRMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSON.
SOME PEOPLE WHO FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY CAN USE THEIR CONSIDERABLE RESIDUAL VISION – THEIR
REMAINING SIGHT – TO COMPLETE DAILY TASKS WITHOUT RELYING ON ALTERNATIVE METHODS. THE ROLE OF
A LOW VISION SPECIALIST (OPTOMETRIST OR OPHTHALMOLOGIST) IS TO MAXIMIZE THE FUNCTIONAL LEVEL
OF A PATIENT'S VISION BY OPTICAL OR NON-OPTICAL MEANS. PRIMARILY, THIS IS BY USE OF MAGNIFICATION
IN THE FORM OF TELESCOPIC SYSTEMS FOR DISTANCE VISION AND OPTICAL OR ELECTRONIC MAGNIFICATION
FOR NEAR TASKS.
PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ACUITY MAY BENEFIT FROM TRAINING CONDUCTED BY
INDIVIDUALS TRAINED IN THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL AIDS. LOW VISION REHABILITATIONPROFESSIONALS,
SOME OF WHOM ARE CONNECTED TO AN AGENCY FOR THE BLIND, CAN PROVIDE ADVICE ON LIGHTING AND
CONTRAST TO MAXIMIZE REMAINING VISION. THESE PROFESSIONALS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO NON-VISUAL
AIDS, AND CAN INSTRUCT PATIENTS IN THEIR USES.
THE SUBJECTS MAKING THE MOST USE OF REHABILITATION INSTRUMENTS, WHO LIVED ALONE, AND
PRESERVED THEIR OWN MOBILITY AND OCCUPATION WERE THE LEAST DEPRESSED, WITH THE LOWEST RISK OF
SUICIDE AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION.
THOSE WITH WORSENING SIGHT AND THE PROGNOSIS OF EVENTUAL BLINDNESS ARE AT COMPARATIVELY
HIGH RISK OF SUICIDE AND THUS MAY BE IN NEED OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. MANY STUDIES HAVE
DEMONSTRATED HOW RAPID ACCEPTANCE OF THE SERIOUS VISUAL HANDICAP HAS LED TO A BETTER, MORE
PRODUCTIVE COMPLIANCE WITH REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. MOREOVER, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS HAS
BEEN REPORTED TO BE AT ITS HIGHEST WHEN SIGHT LOSS IS NOT COMPLETE, BUT THE PROGNOSIS IS
UNFAVORABLE. THEREFORE, EARLY INTERVENTION IS IMPERATIVE FOR ENABLING SUCCESSFUL
PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT.

 GLOBALLY THE LEADING CAUSES OF VISION IMPAIRMENT ARE :

 UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERRORS

 CATARACT
 AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
 GLAUCOMA
 DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
 CORNEAL OPACITY
 TRACHOMA.

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 SENSES AND ARCHITECTURE

 AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE PERCEPTION OF A SPACE COMPLETELY DEPENDS ON THE SENSES AND THE
LEVEL TO WHICH THEY HAVE DEVELOPED IN WE PEOPLE. BUT IT IS ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
ARCHITECTURE TO INVOKE AND MAKE US AWARE OF THE SENSES THAT HAVE GONE DORMANT.
ARCHITECTURE DOESN'T HAPPEN IN ISOLATION. ARCHITECTURE EXISTS WITH THE NATURE AND ACTS
AS AN EXTENSION OF NATURE INTO THE MAN-MADE REALM. EVERY EXPERIENCE OF ARCHITECTURE,
UNLESS INTENTIONAL, IS PERCEIVED BY ALL THE SENSES TOGETHER. ONE RECEPTOR FEEDS AND
COLLABORATES WITH THE OTHER TO CREATE A MULTI-SENSORY EXPERIENCE.
 ALL THE FOUR SENSES- VISION, SMELL, HEAR AND TASTE, ACTS AS AN INTERFACE BETWEEN THE
TACTILE SENSE, WHICH HAS SKIN AS ITS RECEPTOR AND THE WORLD. IT IS AN INTERFACE BETWEEN
THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR OF THE BODY. (PALLASMAA, THE EYES OF THE SKIN, 2005).WE
UNCONSCIOUSLY OR CONSCIOUSLY ASSOCIATE SOME OF THE SENSES TO ALMOST ALL OF THE
ELEMENTS OF A BUILDING OR SPACE. SAY, A LIVING ROOM HAS THE SENSE OF VISION AND TOUCH
ASSOCIATED WITH IT. BUT IF WE LOOK CLOSELY, IT CAN'T FUNCTION WITHOUT RESPONDING TO ALL
THE FIVE SENSES.

 METHODOLOGY :

 CASE STUDY

 DATA COLLECTION

 LITERATURE REVIEW

 SITE SELECTION

 SITE ANALYSIS

 FORMULATION OF DESIGN PROGRAMME

 DESIGN SOLUTION

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 ANALYSIS :

 GLOBAL CAUSES OF VISUAL IMPAIEMENT, INCLUSIVE OF BLINDNESS, AS PERCENTAGE

 GLOBAL CAUSES OF BLINDNESS AS PERCENTAGE OF GLOBAL BLINDNESS IN 2010

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 VISION CATEGORY STANDARDS

 STATE WISE PREVALENCE OF VISUAL IMPAIRED IN INDIA

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 INFERENCE:
PROPOSED DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS STATES THAT THE PEOPLE ARE STILL UNAWARE OF THE ISSUES
REGARDING BLIND PEOPLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO MAJOR PROBLEMS IN FUTURE. THE BLIND INSTITUTES IN
INDIA ARE NOT ABLE TO WORK NATURALLY TO HIGHTENT THEIR OTHER SENCES. THERE IS NOT ONLY THE
NEED OF ANY RIGID STRUCTURE TO STAY THERE BUT ALSO THE NEED OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO HEAL
THEIR GUILT. BY PROVIDING SUCH TYPE OF CENTERS DEFINITELY HELP IN MINIMIZING THE RATIO OF BLIND
PEOPLE IN INDIA.

 CONCLUSION:
TODAY’S RAPID GROWTH IN URBANIZATION IS RELATED TO CONSIDERING SOCIAL ISSUES. SOME SOCIAL
ISSUES ARE NEGLECTED BY SOCIETY ITSELF. THERE IS NEED OF MASS AWAKENING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY
TO CHANGE PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE TOWARDS BLINDNESS. AS AN ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT WE HAVE THAT
RESPONSIBILITY TO STUDY THE CURRENT UPCOMMING SOCIAL ISSUES WHICH WILL MINIMIZES IN THIS FLOW
OF URBANIZATON BY BETTER DESIGNING.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 HTTP://WWW.COMMUNITYCENTERFORTHEBLIND.ORG/PROGRAMS
 HTTP://WWW.CASEY.VIC.GOV.AU/ARTS-LEISURE/PARKS-FACILITIES/BLIND-BIGHT-COMMUNITY-CENTRE
 HTTP://WWW.BCCSD.ORG/
 HTTP://WWW.BLINDRIVER.CA/CMS/ONE.ASPX?PORTALID=73377&PAGEID=114194
 HTTP://WWW.BLINDBIGHTCOMMUNITYCENTRE.COM.AU/
 HTTP://WWW.NABINDIA.ORG/CENTRE-FOR-BLIND-WOMEN/
 HTTP://WWW.NABINDIA.ORG/
 HTTPS://ISSUU.COM/SYEDHAMDANHUSSAINMAQBOOL/DOCS/ARCHITECTURE_THESIS_2014_-_REPORT
 HTTPS://WWW.INDIATODAY.IN/WORLD-SPECIAL/VIDEO/GRAFFITI-BRAILLE-ART-GALLERY-UNITES-
BLIND-PEOPLE-AND-VIEWERS-1079808-2017-11-03?JWSOURCE=CL

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