Vicki and Becky participated in a sensewalk where they were blindfolded to experience mobility without sight. Vicki felt disoriented and sick at first but was able to relax by mentally picturing the campus layout. Her hearing became heightened. Being indoors was terrifying due to echoing noises. Outside she felt more in control. Becky felt uneasy and reliant on her partner. Sounds and distances felt closer. She focused on walking safely but was surprised to discover they were somewhere different than she pictured. Both found mentally mapping their surroundings helped them feel safer.

1. Intervention 3
The Sensewalk

2. Vicki’s
Experiences

3. 
As soon as the blindfold was placed on I
instantly felt sick. I felt like I had lost my sense
of balance and my head was moving from side
to side.

I tried to picture the campus as a map in my
mind to make myself less disorientated which
relaxed me. I felt more connected to my mind
as I was constantly talking to myself and
thinking about where I was and what was
around me

My hearing was significantly heightened on my
side and cars etc sounded louder and closer
than they were. On my partners side it seemed
further away as there was a physical barrier
between me and the noise.

4. • My partner took me inside which was a terrifying
experience. It felt very claustrophobic and all
the noises seemed to be echoing off the walls
making it extremely loud. It made me more
disorientated as I couldn’t concentrate on
anything except the noise.
• I asked to be taken outside where I instantly felt
more relaxed.
• My partner had complete control which made me
feel more uneasy and helpless
• Being outside afterwards was much easier. I fell
off the pavement at one point as I had
completely given up my power to my partner and
I didn’t need to think about the physical process
of walking so I started daydreaming.

5. Becky’s
Experiences

6. • I feel very uneasy throughout the walk and a bit
redundant
• At the beginning I thought it felt like we were
walking on the road, and when I ask my partner,
Vicki informs me that yes we are indeed walking up
the road and not the pavement.
• It is obvious from the outset I have little choice in
where we go as I would of chosen the footpath.
• I am highly reliant on my partner’s sight to walk so
the balance of power is firmly in their hands.
• Everything is a lot louder and feels more immediate.
• Cars driving past feel inches away from me, even
after my partner assures me they are at least 5
metres away, I don’t feel safe without my sight.

7. • I am very aware of what my feet are doing and
focus carefully on changes in the terrain a.k.a.
the road surface for fear of tripping and changes
in slope height are a lot more apparent.
• I felt I could work out on campus where we were
through my sense of direction and physical
features for example steps, terrain and slope
changes.
• However when I finally took my blindfold off I
was thrown when we were stood outside the
Library and not the Munrow gym.
• I felt a lot more comfortable picturing my reality
even though that was not necessarily where I in
fact was. By putting where I was walking into
context I felt safer.