An Introduction to O&M, FOR Visual Impaired Persons

1. Orientation and
mobility(indoor/outdoor)
AHMED BILAL
ahmed.bilal.jaswall@gmail.com 0346-4043804
DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.

2. Orientation
“The process of knowing where
one is in space at any given
moment in time is, for our
purpose here, defined as
orientation”

3. Orientation
 “Orientation mean knowledge of one
distance and direction relative to object”
 “Orientation is the ability to use one’s
existing senses to understand one’s location
in the environment at any given time”

4. Mobility
“mobility defined as act of moving safely
and effectively from one,s present
position to a desired position in another
part of the environment”
Mobility is the capacity for or facility of
movement”

5. Orientation and Mobility
Generally defined as “ the teaching of
concepts, skills, and techniques
necessary for a person with visual
impairment to travel safely and efficiently
through any environment and under the
environmental conditions and situations”

6. Environmental flow
Ecological
approach
orientation mobility
•Listening
•Touching
•Looking
•Sniffing

7. Importance of Orientation and
Mobility
 Personal Development
“A restricted movement of individuals may
influence their development, understanding of
concepts and quality of life considerably”.
 Independence in Movement
“It enables them to become more independent in
indoor as well as outdoor mobility”.

8. Cont.…..
 Social Integration
“Mobility enables an individual to perform daily
activities like going to a grocery shop, temple,
common place, venues of social activities,
houses of relatives, neighbors and friends etc”.
 Self Confidence
“When an individual is not able to travel around
freely, it has devastating effect on his/her self
concept, self Confidence and desire to compete
and progress.

9. Cont.…..
 Safety of the Individual
“It enhances the safety of the individual and his
fellow beings. It is essential for correcting gait and
postural defects”.
 Comprehensive Rehabilitation
“To be able to move independently within
environment is one of the pre-requisites for
employment, gainful occupation, economic
rehabilitation or income generation".

10. Mobility Techniques
Sighted Guide
Walking Alone
Cane Techniques

11. Sighted Guide
 While Approaching Narrow Spaces
 Ascending and Descending Stairs
 Being Helped to a Chair
 Passing Through Doorways

12. Practice Sighted Guiding

13. Walking Alone
Trailing
Locating Dropped Articles
Using Landmarks Indoor
Direction Taking

14. Cane Techniques
 Pre-cane Devices
 Use of a Long Cane
 Right Type of Cane
 Qualities of Cane
 Holding the Cane
 Using the Cane

15. Pre-cane Devices

16. Type of Cane

17. General sequence of O&M
instruction

18. Indoor instructions of O&M
instruction
 Human guide techniques: various
skills and stairs ( without and with
railing).
 Self protection techniques.
 Search patterns, sound
localization/discreamination
techniques.
 The five point travel system#1: ( route
pattern, compass direction).
 Hand-trailing and direction-taking,
room familiarizations.

19. Indoor instructions of O&M
instruction
 Long can techniques: human guide, diagonal cane, stairs
(without and with railing).
 Five point travel system#2:( route pattern, compass
direction, landmarks, clues/cues.
 Basic two point touch technique, stairs (without and with
railing).
 Five point travel system#3:( route pattern, compass
direction, landmarks, clues/cues, floor and building
familiarization, solo and drop-off lesson.

20.  Basic two point touch
technique, stairs (without
and with railing).

21. outdoor instructions of O&M
instruction :
 Side walks, shore lining, routes, corner
familiarization, beginning street crossing
(perpendicular versus parallel crossing).
 Five point travel system#4:( route pattern,
compass direction, landmarks, clues/cues.
 Crossing complex street configurations and
signalizations, auditory traffic alignment.
 Neighborhood familiarization, solo and drop-off
lesson.

22. outdoor instructions of O&M
instruction:
 Small and medium business districts.
 Seeking public assistance.
 Special considerations: alleys, parking lots, gas
stations, strip malls.
 Public transportations: taxis, buses, subways
and light rail systems.
 Five point travel system#5:( route pattern,
compass direction, landmarks, clues/cues.

24. Guidelines for the specialist/O&M
instructor.
 Planning for success.
 Building toward mastery.
 Focusing on the individual.
 Promoting trust.
 Task analysis.
 Behavioral links and chains.
 Short term & long term goals.