Orientation & Mobility for Adults
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) is “knowing where you are, knowing where you want to go, and knowing how to get there.”
The training is a specialised form of instruction designed to give those with visual impairments the ability to move safely and efficiently through all environmental conditions.
O&M Training involves:
Orientation: Understanding one's location and surroundings. It refers to the thinking part of moving from place to place. It is the process of using knowledge and sensory information to understand one's location in the environment and how to move to a desired destination.
Mobility: Focuses on moving safely and independently. It refers to the physical part of travel, which includes confident, safe and efficient movement from one place to another. Balance, level of independent movement and awareness of dangers can affect a person's ability to travel.
Training in these areas often includes techniques using auditory and environmental cues, tactile information, learning to use landmarks for travel, and orientation aids to enhance spatial awareness and travel abilities.
Specialised Services
Learning to orientate oneself in both familiar and unfamiliar environments
Using appropriate travel techniques and tools such as long canes, ID canes, support canes etc
Avoiding objects or hazards
Managing steps, stairs and other changes in elevation
Training in visual scanning for clients with a visual field loss to promote safe travel and management of daily tasks
Crossing roads with or without traffic controls
Using public transport – buses (community or public), taxis, planes, trains etc
Travelling when lighting conditions pose challenges
Map reading or using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) supported devices and apps to travel in a wider variety of environments
Smart phone accessibility and App Training
