A tactile access and navigation system and method for a visually impaired user operating within a computerized data environment includes a bi-directional input-output system having one or more tactile displays and user-operable input controls; a data transformer for extracting display data from the computer and transforming that data into a form suitable for display by the one or more tactile displays; apparatus for arranging the display data into a predetermined structure of GUI elements for navigation by the bi-directional input-output system; and apparatus for providing display data to the one or more tactile displays in any of one or more viewing modes for displaying on the one or more tactile displays a tactile representation of graphical and textual data content; and one or more navigational modes for displaying on the one or more tactile displays a tactile representation of the orientation of the GUI elements within the structure.