Child Development
Severity Scales
Check Lists

Understanding Blindness
Understanding Vision
Understanding Low Vision

Visual (low vision) Training

Learning to Fixate
Learning to Scan
learning to Track
Learning to find the figure in the ground
Creating mental images

Auditory training

Sound Shadows
Sound discrimination
Sound Localization
Echolocation

Concepts

Body
Positional
Environmental

Understanding Space

layouts
routes

Orientation Checks
Landmarks and Clues
Mapping Skills
Environmental Literacy (smart spaces)

Cane Training
Gait Training
Body management Training

Mannerisms
Fidgeting
Posture (center of gravity)
Centering (yoga)

The following are important terms submitted for definition. We will link problem solving, lesson plans, references to the terms as a beginning format for this evolving curriculum. The order is not yet relevant. We are searching for an overall conceptual framework for the curriculum.

Orientation:

Mobility:

Blindness:

Low vision:

Space:

Orientation technology,

Mobility technology

Environmental literacy

Blind gait

Assessments

Landmark

Developmental age

Visual training

Blind mannerisms Mental image

Echolocation

Orientation check

Teaching students about their vision problems

Games

Play

Mapping skills

Canes

Concepts

Good ideas: where we post brainstorming ideas/comments; material for later incorporation into the curriculum.

References: documents; curriculums

The orientation, mobility, gait and landmark definitions are from the "Blue O&M Bible" by Hill and Ponder, the definition of blindness is a simple definition of legal blindness, the definition of low vision comes from some low vision experts in our field, and the echolocation definition is a revised compilation from experts on echolocation in our field. I prefer not to use the term "blind gait" but to simply describe a particular gait. The same is true for mannerisms, as this will hopefully avoid unproductive stereotyping.

Orientation: Orientation is the process of using the senses to establish one's position and relationship to all other significant objects in one's environment. Orientation gives meaning to movement.

Mobility: Mobility is the ability to effectively navigate within one's environment.

"The ultimate goal of orientation and mobility is to enable the student to enter any environment, familiar or unfamiliar, and to function safely, efficiently, gracefully, and independently by utilizing a combination of these two skills." - Hill and Ponder, 1976

Gait: a manner or rate of walking

Landmark: any familiar object, sound, odor, temperature or tactual clue that is easily recognized and that has a known location in the environment

Echolocation: Echolocation is the ability to hear and interpret returning echoes from objects in one's environment that can provide information about the location, dimensions, and density of those objects. (Based upon information about echolocation provided by World Access for the Blind at http://www.waftb.org/Echolocation.htm )

I am really pleased to see that you are using the term "human guide" instead of "sighted guide". "Human guide" is a lot more accurate, because the guide doesn't have to be sighted. I have very low vision, but so what! ... I guide other blind people all the time.

The other thing I am really pleased about is that you include Hines Break in your list. Very important! It is something that my current o&m instructor taught me, but that I don't think a lot of instructors teach.

What do you teach your students about shopping? I'm just starting some independent living skills training through the royal society for the blind. Do many of your students learn to shop alone? It's something I can't imagine doing... but I've heard it's possible.

Outline of O&M Skills/Concepts

A = already had the skill; C = complete; I = introduced but not complete NA = not appropriate Human guide:

--narrow passages --doorways --stairs --seating in a chair; at a table --opening the door for a female guide --what guide needs to know --Locating objects by following guide's arm

--Touch technique / Constant-contact technique ...Technique maintained without concentration ... Cane information (obstacles / drop-offs) noticed when distracted --Stairs --Exploring objects contacted with cane --Negotiating obstacles ...Safely clearing path ...Avoiding obstacle with feet (memorizing its location after cane located it) --Locating door handles --Shorelining/trailing with cane --Modification when walking with a guide Explanations --Three things that cane won't warn of --Reason for (and decision of) centering hand --Reason for keeping in step

--building a cognitive map --being aware of direction/space whenever turning --maintain orientation when guided (inc. turns)

--Maintaining line around obstacle --Accurate turns (active) --Distance measurement while walking Localization

Echolocation:

--Detect corners / openings / walls --Determine room size / distance of walls Vision:

--Eccentric viewing --Scanning for object --Partial occlusion (able to combine visual with nonvisual/cane information) Car familiarization

Hines Break

Hand and forearm techniques: Upper, Lower

Trailing with hand

Squaring off

Direction-taking

Room familiarization

--Use of landmar

--Bending down without bumping head
OUTSIDE

Sidewalk travel

--Cane technique maintained / snags controlled --Recovery from veer in driveway --Features of driveways vs. streets --Use of sound shadows

Orientation

-

-Use of sun for orientation --Use of features and landmarks --Drop-off

General:

--Recognize street edge --Judging width of street / distance of passing cars --Initial alignment --

1. Maintain line of travel 2. Use traffic sounds 3. Curb alignment inside from corner 4. Return and approach again, maintaining line of travel

--Understand time needed to cross various widths

--Maintain straight line of travel during crossing

--Recovery from veer

--Knowing sources of danger, and reducing / avoiding risk

--Use of alternative strategies when risk is not acceptable

--Analyze unfamiliar intersections -- determine:

... geometry ... traffic control ... crossing technique

Crossings with no traffic control

--judging gap detection (TMAD / TMASD) and risk

--understanding pedestrian laws

Signalized intersection

--Actuation vs. fixed-time ... how actuation works ... common features to recognize --Analyze pattern --Best time to cross --3 sources of danger: ...reducing / avoiding risk --pedestrian buttons / WALK signals --separate (channelized) right-turning lanes

understanding strategies / options for communication choosing preferred communication techniques practice / assess use of technique(s) feedback on use of technique(s); re-selection / improvement

Finding unfamiliar destinations

Orienting self to unfamiliar destination to find it independently

Shopping:

--interacting with shopkeepers --handling money --Grocery shopping

Metro system

cabs

Soliciting aid

Escalators

Elevators