Not just for "cane travelers"! People with low vision who don't use a cane often can benefit from learning to cross streets safely, use public transportation, and plan routes to unfamiliar destinations.
The following illustrate some of the various stages of orientation and mobility training:
Basic skills include (among other things):
Thank you to the community for the use of your buildings!
These skills are usually taught in a large building with stairs and hallways - the more complicated and confusing the building is, the better!
The training has taken place in many dozens of churches, synagogues, community buildings and schools throughout Maryland and DC.
We are very grateful to those who supported our efforts by allowing us to use their building to practice and train in these skills!
Photo: Learning to use a cane means more than just learning to move it correctly -- it takes practice to notice and use non-visual information without concentrating, especially when distracted with functional vision (see article).
Outdoor travel:
orientation using sun, features and landmarks, etc.
Advanced problem-solving strategies
(includes "Drop-off lesson" -- student is intentionally disoriented in a familiar community and has to reorient without assistance)
basic street-crossing skills
These skills are usually taught in the client's own neighborhood if it has typical features of residential areas.
Photo: Client learns about slopes and textures that distinguish driveways from streets.
Photo: Street crossing at modern intersections requires advanced skills and concepts.
Metro, bus and urban travel complete the program.
Photo: The advanced traveler independently gathers information and plans routes using the Metro and buses to go to unfamiliar destinations by herself.
ORIENTATION SERVICES:
People starting a new job, going to school at a new campus, or moving to a new community may benefit from an orientation to help them become familiar with the environment and analyze complex intersections and routes.
Please note that:
orientation services are provided to people who already have the skills and concepts needed to travel independently. People who don't have these skills and concepts need a training program (see above) before an orientation service can prepare them to travel safely and independently to a new area.
standard orientation and mobility training programs can and should prepare learners how to: