What are common characteristics of someone who is functionally blind?

Individuals who are functionally blind typically exhibit a reliance on auditory and tactile stimuli as a primary means of navigating their environment and gathering information. This characteristic arises because people who are functionally blind have limited or no usable vision, leading them to depend more heavily on their other senses to interact with the world around them.

This adaptation allows them to gather information about their surroundings through sounds, touch, and even the nuances of smell, enhancing their ability to function in daily life. For example, they might listen to the sounds of traffic to gauge when it is safe to cross a street or use tactile maps to navigate unfamiliar spaces.

The other characteristics listed do not accurately reflect the experiences of someone who is functionally blind. For instance, broad visual perception without aids would imply a certain level of vision, which does not align with the definition of functional blindness. Similarly, full independence in navigation and the ability to perform complex visual tasks suggest capabilities that typically do not align with functional blindness.