Orientation and Mobility — World Services for the Blind (2024)

FAQs

What are the clues in orientation and mobility? ›

Orientation & Mobility experts define clues and landmark as, “any familiar object, sound, smell, temperature, tactile or visual clue that is easily recognised, is constant and has a discrete permanent location in the environment that is known to the traveller.” A clue can include the sounds, smells, temperature, ...

Orientation and mobility (O&M) instruction provides students who are deaf-blind with a set of foundational skills to use residual visual, auditory, and other sensory information to understand their environments.

Orientation and Mobility Specialists help people who are blind or visually impaired to develop the skills necessary for independent and safe travel within their homes, workplaces and communities.

Mobility: Specialized training helps those with vision loss safely and efficiently navigate from one location to another. Training is provided in real-life settings and often includes specialized mobility aids, including a white cane.

The long cane is a mobility device for individuals who are blind or who have low vision. When used properly, canes help users to detect obstacles, drop-offs, and changes in ground surface.

Orientation and Mobility can include: Spatial awareness. Understanding and being able to follow directional language—left, right, above, below, beside, etc.; cardinal directions—south, northeast, etc. Recognizing and synthesizing environmental cues, including landmarks and tactile or auditory feedback.

A guide cane is shorter than a long cane. It is a mobility aid that can be used to detect kerbs or steps. It can be held diagonally in front of a person for protection or swept from side to side. It is necessary to get training to use a guide cane.

DO allow the person you are guiding to hold your arm and follow as you walk. DO move your guiding arm behind your back when approaching a narrow space so the person you are guiding can step behind you and follow single-file.

Provide an auditory and visual teaching approach; do the same in meetings or other encounters. Read aloud anything that is written on the board or presented on handouts, PowerPoint slides, or any other visual aids. Create text-based descriptions of materials that are primarily visual or graphical in nature.

What is the goal of orientation and mobility instruction? O&M training seeks to give individuals with visual impairment confidence and skills to move through their environment safely. Orientation refers to an individual's sense of place within their environment.

How long does orientation and mobility training take? ›

Typically, a person with no prior O&M training and little to no useful vision will need three to six months of training to become as independent as their abilities permit. Students who have had previous training can complete the program in three to four weeks.

The service of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) evaluates and teaches students with visual impairments to travel safely and efficiently throughout familiar and unfamiliar environments–home, school, and community.

Multi-skill Training (one-year programme)

The trainees acquire various skills such as bookbinding & paper craft, basic massage, chair caning, candle making, packaging, stitching and soap-making enabling them to work in industry, become self-employed or work with family support.

independent movement: which includes crawling, rolling, walking, etc. sighted guide: using another person to aid in travel. protective techniques: specific skills which provide added protection in unfamiliar areas. cane skills: use of various cane techniques to clear one's path or to locate objects along the way.

Orientation is the ability to recognise one's position in relation to the environment, whereas mobility is the ability to move around safely and efficiently. Orientation and mobility (O&M) training teaches people to use their remaining vision and other senses to get around.

Orientation refers to a person's ability to use their senses to know where they are positioned in their environment. Mobility refers to the person's capability and readiness to move in their environment.

Orientation and mobility (O&M) training teaches a person with visual impairment to use mobility aids such as a white cane or guide dog and move safely through their environment. Professionals usually conduct sessions one-to-one so they can tailor training to a person's specific needs and goals.

APPENDIX A. Permission for Transportation O&M Assessment/Instruction. The service of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) evaluates and teaches students with visual impairments to travel safely and efficiently throughout familiar and unfamiliar environments–home, school, and community.