Making a verbal map

This, or something similar, has happened to me a number of times.  I am walking across the road, or along a train platform and someone will shout to me, “Abunai!” (It’s dangerous!)  Then I think, “Well, what’s dangerous?  Is it dangerous in front of me?  Behind me?  To the side?  Should I stop?  Speed up, perhaps?” 

I will then stop and say, “Doko ga abunai?” (Where is the danger?)  Then the reply will come, “Asoko!” (Over there!)

Needless to say, this kind of vague direction will only confuse the situation.

So how do blind people make best use of directions?  Well, someone I know works for a volunteer group which makes “verbal maps”, or directions for the blind or visually impaired.  If a blind person wants to go from, say, Takadanobaba Station to the Nihon Tenji Toshokan (Japan Braille Library), they can access an application which will give directions from the station to the library, which is a short walk away.

The important thing is to give concrete directions from point to point, A to B, B to C, C to D etc.

For example, for a sighted person, these directions might be sufficient:  Exit the train station.  You will see an intersection up ahead.  Cross the road at the intersection... etc.

For a blind person, you would have to break down the short journey into a series of smaller steps.  For example: With the exit gates at your back, follow the Braille blocks for 15 metres.  You will come to a four-way intersection.  Take the left path at the 9 o’clock direction and follow the Braille blocks for 20 metres.  You will come to a busy road with a set of traffic lights.... etc.

To make a helpful verbal map, you just have to imagine yourself looking at the route from the same position as the person who will walk along it.  And you have to describe things you can feel, not see, or give directions people can follow clearly, like directions based upon the numbers on a clock face.

Now, if you have a good imagination, you can make your own verbal maps if you meet me on the street and want to help me get somewhere...
 

Vocabulary:

to be vague – To be unclear; without detail.

to be visually impaired – To be not fully sighted, but not necessarily completely blind.

Braille – This is a system of writing for blind people.  It uses dots which can be felt instead of characters which can be read.

to be concrete – To contain real details; not abstract.

an intersection – The point where two or more roads or paths meet.

Braille blocks – These are things which are put on the ground to make a path for blind people to follow.  They are usually yellow and can often be seen in and around train stations.