Orientation and Mobility: Is It
for Me?
What is Orientation
and Mobility?
Orientation and Mobility (O & M) is the instructional
program of skills learned by individuals with visual
impairments. O & M skills are taught by specially
trained personnel called orientation and mobility specialists.
Who Needs Orientation
and Mobility?
Persons experiencing limitations to independent movement
and environmental access as a result of significant
visual impairments are candidates for these specialized
services.
How Can Orientation
and Mobility Help Me?
O & M skills help people with severe vision loss
established and maintain their understanding of where
they are in space. O & M facilitates their safe
and efficient movement through the environment. These
environmental factors include a person's unique indoor
and outdoor living spaces, local neighborhood, shopping
centers, schools, jobs, or other frequented locations
O & M specialists also may assist
with adaptations that can allow those living and working
with vision loss to utilize their remaining vision
and other sensory information to their best advantage.
Orientation and
Mobility Techniques
O & M specialists have extensive training, are
graduates of a university program, and are certified
by an international certification agency, Association
for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (AER). The primary elements of good O & M
instruction may include one or several of the following
skills:
- Basic Sighted Guide - The most widely used
technique in O & M is the "sighted guide" technique.
Basic sighted guide technique is the use of a human
guide to lead a person with visual impairment through
unfamiliar travel environments in a specific way.
- Long Cane - The long cane is considered
the most effective and efficient mobility device
for safe, independent travel for individuals with
visual impairments. Besides giving the traveler information
about the environment, the long cane protects the
person from drop-offs and other obstacles. Canes
also are used for identification purposes.
- Electronic Mobility - Electronic mobility
includes O & M techniques for persons with an
identified visual impairment who are confined to
electronic movement devices, such as power wheelchairs.
- Dog Guides - Dog guides are best for the
very active, mature adult with a severe vision loss
who has basic O & M skills. Dogs require systematic
use by their owners who have many needs and opportunities
to travel, and who would welcome a canine travel
guide.
Orientation and Mobility services are essential to
persons with visual impairments who wish to be independent
travelers. Working together-students, teachers, mobility
specialists and medical professionals-we can travel
our own paths
Contact Melba Bunch for more information
today!
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