Early Childhood Intervention.

For babies and toddlers who have a vision impairment, O&M encourages movement and develops fundamental concepts and skills which are the “building blocks” of O&M. Young children possess an innate capacity for learning, making early intervention so important.

Early Intervention training:

• supports muscle development and coordination

• provides motivation to move by exploring interesting activities and environments

• teaches body concepts to negotiate the environment safely and efficiently

• teaches heightened sensory awareness because travelling with loss of sight involves listening and paying close attention to sounds, sights, textures, and smells in the environment.

• teaches location and travel concepts to increase a child’s understanding of concepts and better prepare them to navigate their environment.

• follow directions and provide positive and safe mobility experiences to increase a child’s confidence to venture out past their “comfort zone” and to move safely and independently in a range of environments.

Our Early Intervention service may also include an assessment of the child’s developmental level, focusing on: vision, compensatory, social, self-help, and gross motor skills. Appropriate teaching goals will then be applied to work on areas identified.

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training for children involves teaching children the skills to navigate their surroundings safely and independently. This includes spatial awareness, mobility techniques, using sensory information to understand their environment, learning how to make new friends and interact with people in the community. O&M helps children build on their personal goals and confidence as they transition from home to kindergarten and to school.

Children Orientation and Mobility training:

Concept development – Body (body parts, body planes, laterality and directionality), spatial (positional, relational, shape, measurement, actions) and environmental concepts (object in the environment, shape, texture, temperature) are fundamental to orientation and mobility skills.

Sensory development – Sight, sound, smell and touch support purposeful movement, maintain position, find objects, locate and identify landmarks, and recognise safety cues.

Orientation and Mapping - Orientate in familiar and unfamiliar environments, develop concept of a city block, learn about different types of street crossings, interpret simple and more complex maps to enhance comprehension of spatial relationships and the ability to travel in all environments safely and independently.

Travel Techniques - Follow proper human guide techniques, demonstrate correct use of the long cane or adaptive mobility device, travel safely in indoor, residential and commercial environments, practice safe road crossings, and use public transport. The effective use of appropriate travel techniques enables students who have a vision impairment to participate in activities as independently as possible.

Communication, Safety and Advocacy – Demonstrate effective communication skills, appropriate social interactions, identify basic safety rules, understand personal medical issues and eye condition, and know emergency procedures.

Accessibility Training – Learn how to use a Smart phone, GPS and App applications, and other assistive technologies