Orientation and Mobility for Aged Visually Impaired Persons

1984 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary-Maureen Hill ◽  
Randall K. Harley
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Future Planning ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Mobility Training ◽  
Blind Persons ◽  
Mobility Skills ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons

Although the number of aged blind and visually impaired persons is rapidly increasing in the country, very little attention has been given to this population, especially in the development of orientation and mobility skills. To meet the needs of these adult blind persons, the problems of aging and of blindness must be understood by the orientation and mobility instructor. Modifications to orientation and mobility training programs and recommendations for future planning are suggested.

Mobility Options for Visually Impaired Persons with Diabetes: Considerations for Orientation and Mobility Instructors

1998 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Milligan
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Complications Of Diabetes ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Mobility Training ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons

This article describes ocular and other complications of diabetes that orientation and mobility instructors should consider in determining the most appropriate mobility training for persons with diabetes who are visually impaired. It compares the benefits of using dog guides and long canes in dealing with these various complications.

The Use of Fax Technology to Address the Reading Needs of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons

1990 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 509-513
Author(s):  
W. Gerrey ◽  
J. Brabyn ◽  
W. Crandall
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Office Workers ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People ◽  
Blind Persons ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons

Although fax communications pose a problem of accessibility for blind and visually impaired office workers, with centralized readers’ services they could be used to address the wider reading needs of blind and visually impaired people. With this technology, blind persons with fax machines could send unknown print to readers at a centralized readers’ service, who would read facsimiles of the documents over voice phones. This article discusses the specifications for appropriate equipment and protocols and presents the preliminary results of a study of such a system.

An Orienteering Program for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons

1981 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 273-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Edwin Langbein ◽  
Bruce B. Blasch ◽  
Bonnie L. Chalmers
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Instructional Methods ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Visual Maps ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Mobility Programs ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons

Orienteering is a timed cross-country race using maps and compasses to reach checkpoints on an unfamiliar course. It can be used in conjunction with orientation and mobility programs to improve the skills of blind and visually impaired persons. Field tests were conducted to determine the efficacy of instructional methods and various types of equipment, such as the Mowat Sensor, braille Compass, long cane, auditory maps, and tactile-visual maps in orienteering programs for the visually impaired. All the participants successfully completed the orienteering courses and found the sport to be enjoyable as well as useful.

Independent Living Services to Older, Blind Persons in Rural Areas: Do They Make a Difference?

2003 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene B. Huff ◽  
Lou Ann Qualls
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Consumer Satisfaction ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Independent Living Programs ◽  
Blind Persons ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons ◽  
Independent Living Services

Independent living services are thought to be an effective and efficient way to maintain older blind and visually impaired persons in their home environment for a longer period of time. Few studies, though, have analyzed the level of consumer satisfaction among these elders. This study asserts that an enriched understanding of customer satisfaction and the resulting service delivery recommendations will assist states in developing more effective independent living programs. The Kentucky Department for the Blind has been offering these services to blind and visually impaired elders since 1980. This study analyzes the results of a consumer satisfaction survey participated in by 94 elders who extensively used the service. Results indicate that independent living services are effective but limited in their ability to serve all elders that need them and services must be flexible enough to serve diverse community needs.

A Program in Orientation and Mobility for Visually Impaired Persons over Age 60

1991 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.B. Straw ◽  
R.K. Harley ◽  
G.J. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Training Curriculum ◽  
Design Issues ◽  
Control Activity ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons

This article reports on the development of an assessment instrument and a training curriculum in orientation and mobility, to be used by families or friends of older blind and visually impaired adults, as well as by professionals in vision and related fields. A field test of the materials was conducted, using the assessment instrument in a pretest-posttest design, with the training curriculum and a structured control activity administered during intervention. Although the materials received enthusiastic support from the project's consultants and participants, no significant treatment or interaction effects were found. Future revisions of the materials are required to deal with methodological and design issues.

Technological Needs of Visually Impaired and Blind Persons in Arkansas

1990 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 534-538
Author(s):  
H.P. Parette ◽  
A. Van Biervliet ◽  
M.C. Holbrook
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Life Functioning ◽  
Funding Support ◽  
Blind Persons ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons ◽  
Access Program ◽  
Satisfaction With Services

This article reports on a statewide survey of the use of technological assistive devices and the unmet needs of 790 blind and visually impaired persons in Arkansas. The survey was conducted in preparation for establishing the Arkansas Technology Access Program under P.L. 100–407. The areas surveyed were life functioning, spending practices and credit options for purchasing devices, funding support systems, travel practices, need for further information, and satisfaction with services and devices.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Training the Adult Blind Client: Occupational Therapy and Orientation and Mobility Collaborate

1985 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 341-346
Author(s):  
Tressa R. Kern ◽  
Cynthia E. Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Professional Associations ◽  
Functional Evaluation ◽  
Professional Collaboration ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Blind Persons

The authors discuss a two-year professional collaboration between an occupational therapist and an orientation and mobility specialist working with an older blind and visually impaired population. They present evidence of the value of an interdisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of blind persons and the necessity for a comprehensive functional evaluation of the potential orientation and mobility client. The authors also cite the administrative realities and experiences in their practice of the partnership of these two disciplines. Recommendations for implementing similar professional associations are made.

A Survey of Blind Orientation and Mobility Specialists about the Accommodations and Teaching Strategies They Use when Providing Orientation and Mobility Services

2021 ◽  
pp. 0145482X2110180
Author(s):  
Nora Griffin-Shirley ◽  
Laura Bozeman ◽  
The Nguyen ◽  
Vitalis Othuon ◽  
Anita Page ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Immersion Training

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors who are blind concerning the identification of accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources to teach students with visual impairments (i.e., blindness or low vision). Methods: The study utilized an online survey via Qualtrics (2019) with 27 closed- and open-ended items to identify accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources needed. The survey was e-mailed to membership and certification organizations requesting O&M instructors who are blind to participate for 12 weeks. The participants were 15 O&M specialists, mostly male and Caucasian. Survey data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty percentage of the participants reported that there were minimal standards that they had to demonstrate prior to their admittance into an O&M program. About one-fourth of the participants mentioned their program was modified because of their visual impairment. Eleven participants (73%) reported that their nonvisual instructional strategies and techniques were predominantly gained through their university programs or other visually impaired instructors (27%, n = 4). Discussion: Aspects of this study that are similar to the current literature are smaller faculty-to-student ratios for blindfold or simulation cane courses, accommodations used by participants, and suggestions for monitoring the safety of students. The results revealed the participants’ strong belief in the importance of immersion training, the use of the Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT), nonvisual skills during O&M instruction, sleep shades, and students’ problem-solving abilities. Implication for practitioners: Although the participants had received SDCT immersion training, most personnel preparation programs approved by the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired do not use this method. For this reason, it is important for faculty to identify best teaching practices from among all programs and to integrate these practices into their curricula. Sharing best practices could strengthen all programs. Moreover, students with visual impairments should be taught early about self-advocacy and the ability to have helpful knowledge about one’s skills at a university and in the workplace.

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