- Orientation & Mobility is a two-phase process:
- Orientation is the process of utilizing sensory information to establish and maintain one's position in the environment.
Role of the O & M Instructor
*
- Works with classroom teacher to coordinate/infuse skill instruction
- Instructs student in the development of skills and knowledge that enables them to travel independently to the highest degree possible, based on assessed needs.
- Teaches student to travel with proficiency, safety and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
- Provides consultation and support services including in-service training to parents, regular education and special education teachers, as well as other school personnel. Provides assistance with environmental modification to ensure reinforcement of appropriate orientation and mobility skills in all setting for visually impaired students.
- Works with the vision teacher to conduct the functional vision assessment as it relates to independent travel.
- Prepares sequential and meaningful instruction geared to the assessed needs, goals and objectives, functioning levels and motivational level of the student.
- Prepares and uses equipment and materials for the development of Orientation and Mobility skills i.e. tactile maps, models, distance, canes, low vision aids (vision students only) etc.
- Transports student to various community locations as necessary to provide meaningful instruction in realistic learning environments which may include transportation in instructor's private vehicle to accommodate for the time restraints.
- Is responsible for student's safety at all times and in all reaching environments while fostering maximum independence.
- Conducts assessments which focus on both long-term and short-term needs of the student.
- Provides Orientation and Mobility instruction where appropriate in the following areas:
Body imagery, laterality, environmental concepts, gross/fine motor skills related to independent travel, sensory awareness, stimulation and training, spatial concepts, compass direction concepts, sighted guide procedures, basic protective and information gathering techniques, orientation skills, map skills, cane skills (vision students only). Use of residual vision, low vision aids related to travel skills, residential travel, travel in business districts, procedures or crossing street including traffic control signals, two-way stop sign control, four-way stop sign control, etc., use of public transportation systems, procedures for use of telephone information gathering and for emergencies, procedures for interacting with the public, knowledge and application of address system, procedures for travel and independent functioning in places of public accommodation, skills of daily living, sensory/motor skills in coordination with PT, OT, or SDC teacher.
*Taken from: Program Guidelines for Students Who are Visually Impaired, California State Department of Education 1995
Referral for Orientation & Mobility
Student, parent and teachers must value Orientation and Mobility instruction to allow pull-out during the normal school day. It is appropriate to make such a referral if:
- Student has difficulty traveling routes within his/her environment independently.
- Student demonstrates fear or hesitancy at elevation changes - stairs, ramps, and curbs.
- Student frequently bumps or trips when traveling.
- Student demonstrates a noticeable difference in travel skills between outdoors and indoors.
- Student needs adaptive techniques for independent travel due to vision loss.
- Student has difficulty traveling at night.
- Student has difficulty making critical reactions that pertain to safety.
- Student has a lack of self-orientation skills.
- Student has sufficient loss or has had sufficient experiential deprivation to create difficulties in independent travel.
Orientation and Mobility should be recommended when...
- Student has some means of self-ambulation (ability to get from one significant point to another or a purpose.
- Student should be able to understand and respond to simple language and one-step commands.
- Student has ability to retain and recall information.
- Student should demonstrate need for independent mobility. It would not be appropriate if the needs are being met through services from another specialist/service provider.
- Student should be able to apply skills taught without being a hazard to himself and others.
- Student has a least one need in the primary need area.
Other Considerations
- Student has behaviors that will not interfere with the safety of the student or others or interfere with the student's ability to learn.**
- Student, parent and teachers must value Orientation Mobility instruction to allow pull-out during the normal school day.
*Inappropriate behaviors may include running away, biting, scratching, pinching, and refusal to move/walk, tantrums in public, disrobing in public.
Service Delivery Models
Consultation is an option to direct service if one if the following conditions exist:
- Student's skills are adequate for his/her age level but may need more services in the future.
- To monitor and accommodate changing needs of the student i.e. possible changes in unexpected or new transportation needs.
- There is site staff who could meet the current mobility needs of the student through consultation.
LEVEL I
May require some direct contact with the student
- to train other site staff on appropriate techniques to ensure safety
- to revise techniques when the student achieves objectives or is not making satisfactory progress
- to provide on-going supervision (including retraining) to team members
LEVEL 2
Serves as a resource to disseminate pertinent information to Assist staff in achieving goals and objectives set in the Individualized Education Plan
- to provide teachers/aides with strategies and materials to assist in attaining goals
- to provide inservice training
LEVEL 3
Involves monitoring progress in situations where students has met all needs for present level of functioning but future needs may arise due to changing vision or maturation.
II. Direct: Student is seen by the Orientation & Mobility teacher for one-to one instructional time to meet mobility goals as established on the Individualized Educational Plan.
Program Completion Criteria A student may be demitted from Orientation and Mobility instructions if any of the following apply:
- Attainment of all applicable goals have been met or student has progressed and met all needs for his abilities.
- Student shows lack of progress within a reasonable length of time.
- Student's skill level is compatible with cognitive level of function
- Parent requests to demit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|