What is Orientation and Mobility?

ORIENTATION

It’s the process of using ones senses to establish ones position and relation to all other significant objects in ones environment.

MOBILITY

The ability to move independently, safely, efficiently and gracefully from one place to another.

Orientation and mobility training (O & M) helps a blind or visually impaired person know where he is in space and where he wants to go (orientation). It also helps him be able to carry out a plan to get there (mobility).

Orientation and mobility skills should begin to be developed in infancy starting with basic body awareness and movement, and continuing on into adulthood as the individual learns skills that allow him to navigate his world efficiently, effectively, and safely, all this depends on when an individual losses their sight.

PRINCIPLES OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY

There are three basic questions that are IMPORTANT for a person to ask themselves:-
1.Where am I? This helps to establish ones position in relation to ones environment
2.Where do I want to go? Helps to create a line and direction of movement in relation to ones environment
3.How do I get there? Helps to establish the means and mode of moving from ones position to their desired point.

WHAT SKILLS ARE TAUGHT THROUGH O & M?

When planning an O & M program for children the focus of training may include such things as:
•Sensory awareness: gaining information about the world through hearing, smell, touch and prior perception
•Spatial concepts: realizing that objects exist even if not heard or felt, and understanding the
•Relationships which exist between objects in the environment
•Searching skills: locating items or places efficiently
•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.

MODES OF ORIENTATION & MOBILITY

1.Use of a sighted Guide – use of a sighted person to guide the PWVI
2.Use of Mobility equipments:-
•white canes
•walking sticks
•Electronic sensor – a cane is fitted with a Sensor, a vibrator or a sound alarm that is activated whenever a PWVI encounters an obstacle. They are mainly used in developed countries. They can’t identify glass doors.
3.Use of a Dog guide- mainly used in developed countries where the infrastructure is well structured and the community is animal friendly.
4.Use of Landmarks and Clues

REASONS FOR O & M TRAINING THROUGH USE OF A WHITE CANE

1. Independence
2. Identification
3. Safely and protection

CONCLUSION

Independent movement is critical for all children with visual impairments. Orientation and Mobility specialists are trained to provide instruction which will enable children with visual impairments to reach their highest level of independence. The services provided by an O & M specialist may not always need to be delivered directly to be effective, but even infants or children with multiple disabilities need the special support of a trained Orientation & Mobility Specialist.

Make sure your child's O & M needs a priority for his independence.