Understanding Nature Engagement Experiences of Blind People

TL;DR

This study explores how blind individuals experience and relate to nature, revealing lower nature relatedness and highlighting challenges, attitudes, and technology needs to foster inclusive engagement beyond visual perception.

Contribution

It provides new insights into blind people's nature engagement experiences and offers design implications for assistive technologies to enhance inclusive access.

Findings

Blind individuals show lower nature relatedness than sighted peers.

Current engagement practices face specific challenges for blind people.

Assistive technologies are desired to support safe and meaningful nature experiences.

Abstract

Nature plays a crucial role in human health and well-being, but little is known about how blind people experience and relate to it. We conducted a survey of nature relatedness with blind (N=20) and sighted (N=20) participants, along with in-depth interviews with 16 blind participants, to examine how blind people engage with nature and the factors shaping this engagement. Our survey results revealed lower levels of nature relatedness among blind participants compared to sighted peers. Our interview study further highlighted: 1) current practices and challenges of nature engagement, 2) attitudes and values that shape engagement, and 3) expectations for assistive technologies that support safe and meaningful engagement. We also provide design implications to guide future technologies that support nature engagement for blind people. Overall, our findings illustrate how blind people experience nature beyond vision and lay a foundation for technologies that support inclusive nature engagement.