IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary findings from a PhD research that aims to understand how people with visual impairments (PVI) appropriate public space. Findings suggest that appropriation of public space is a four-stage process, each requiring greater complexity. The first stage is usage; if a public space does not guarantee PVI accessibility, its appropriation will be problematic. The second stage is meaning; PVI requires special elements to read, interpret, understand, and convey meaning to public space; however, developers do not usually consider these elements. The third stage is habitability, which results from the constant interaction between PVI and the public space through using and signifying it. The fourth and final stage is identity construction; this occurs when PVI signifies and inhabits the space long enough to develop bonds with the public space and recognize the symbols that configure such space as their own. We designed this model to understand the appropriation process of public space through Lefebvre’s theoretical approach to space and Borja’s right to the city. The next steps in this research consider qualitative interviews with PVI to understand each of the stages in-depth and identify needs that aid in developing public policy that guarantees the social appropriation of public space by everyone.