Editor’s Note: In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson established October 15th as White Cane Safety Day to raise awareness of people who use a white cane. This post is the first in our series leading up to White Cane Day on October 15th.
Stabilization. Strength. Motor function and control. Balance. Coordination. Awareness of one’s body and position in space. Movement. Protective techniques. Posture. Cane use. Street crossing. Route navigation. Confident travel. Yes, the process to traveling confidently as a person who is blind or visually impaired is progressive.
Ensuring your child has access to ongoing and advancing Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training and ensuring your child is practicing travel skills over time helps support your child’s ever-increasing autonomy, safety, exploration of the environment, and access to the outside world. Additionally, did you know advanced O&M, community travel skills, are a predictor of workplace success for individuals who are blind or visually impaired?
It’s easy to see the value of robust travel skills. If you’re eager to learn how O&M training is approached and how you can support your child’s acquisition of skills, take a look at FamilyConnect’s O&M articles and blog posts by age:
O&M for babies who are blind or visually impaired
Orientation and Mobility for Blind Babies and Toddlers – FamilyConnect
O&M for preschoolers who are blind or visually impaired
Orientation and Mobility for Blind Preschoolers – FamilyConnect
Orientation and Mobility Activities at Home for Young Blind Children – FamilyConnect
Helping Your Preschooler Practice Orientation and Mobility Skills – FamilyConnect
O&M for grade schoolers who are blind or visually impaired
Orientation and Mobility for Blind Grade Schoolers – FamilyConnect
Using Compass Directions in Orientation and Mobility – FamilyConnect
“Never Eat Soggy Waffles”: How to Master Cardinal Directions – FamilyConnect
Creating a DIY Tactile Map for Your Child or Teen Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired – FamilyConnect
O&M for teenagers who are blind or visually impaired
Orientation and Mobility for Blind Teenagers – FamilyConnect
Orientation and Mobility for Teens with Recent Vision Loss – FamilyConnect
The Value of Strong Orientation and Mobility Skills – FamilyConnect
How Does a Visually Impaired Teen Travel in the Cold, Snow, and Ice?
Lastly, no matter your child’s age, take a peek at Orientation and Mobility Questions and Answers.
With individualized instruction and your support, your child’s ability to purposefully move and travel can gradually increase over time.
Additional resources:
Orientation and Mobility Assessment
Working with Your Child’s Orientation and Mobility Specialist: 8 Questions to Ask