Norine's Notes

Orientation and Mobility

Orientation means you know where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. Mobility is the physical ability to move safely and independently.

Once a person looses their vision, navigating through space becomes a fearful endeavor laden with unseen hazards. Orientation and mobility training helps the person gain back their basic freedom. It is provided by a highly trained instructor. In my case, her name is Evelyn and she is assigned to me by F.I.R.E. She still works with me when needs arise.

The first thing Evelyn did when she met me was a lengthy assessment. She asked me questions and observed how I moved about. Then she developed a plan that would help me in my environment, in my home, the places I frequently visited such as church, doctor’s offices, stores, and the gym. Basically we worked outside in all kinds of weather, walking the routes I would have to take, crossing at the intersections I would typically cross. We also worked inside buildings and she taught me cues for identifying elevators, office numbers, restrooms, and vending machine areas. I learned problem solving skills in real life situations. This training is for real.

By the time I met Evelyn I knew I wanted a dog, but I also knew that in order to get a dog I had to have good orientation and mobility skills using the white cane. I quickly learned that using the white cane is a learned and developed skill. The cane had to be the right length and I had to develop skill in holding it, moving it, and learning from the information it provides. I learned to move the tip of the cane rhythmically in a body wide arc to check for obstacles and changes in the terrain. I had to learn different techniques useful for traveling on city sidewalks and shouldered country roads.

Orientation and mobility training – using the white cane to identify a curb.

There are two purposes for the white cane. One is to feel for obstacles such as curbs when crossing streets. The other is to alert others of the user’s blindness.

Evelyn also taught me to use my other senses to increase my awareness of my surroundings. An example of this is that in a mall the food court can be identified by its smell or the sounds of the water bubbling in a fountain can be another landmark. Most importantly she taught me skills in listening for and assessing traffic conditions so I could safely cross streets.

Her teaching helped me become much more aware of cues in the environment such as the changing sound and light from the presence of large buildings. She emphasized personal safety and taught me basic protective techniques such as hand and arm positions to protect my face from overhanging obstacles.

We progressed to the use of public bus transportation. I learned how to get access to schedules and routes, identify the bus stop and my destination.

Along with all of this, good techniques of communication with the public are very important and she taught me those as well. She taught me both how to accept and refuse assistance from the public. Evelyn taught me how to ask for directions and to be specific about having my questions answered. Often people point over there, but a blind person has no idea where that is, and has to make this clear. Bus drivers have to be asked about the route they are driving – I cannot read the numbers on the bus marquee, and I do not want to spend hours traveling around to a place that should only take a few minutes.

Because my husband and I like to travel to out of the way places in our RV and I like to hike, Evelyn introduced me to the talking compass. She taught my husband how to make tactile maps for me and taught me how to use them.

She also taught us both sighted guide techniques so that I can travel comfortably with him or a companion. The person who assists me has to allow me to grasp him with one hand above his elbow and follow a half pace behind and to the side of him.

Evelyn keeps up with the latest technological advances. She teaches many of her clients to use various types of global positioning systems.

Evelyn helped me through the whole process of getting my dog. I then spent a month at the Leader Dog School learning to work with and use my dog Moses. That was just the beginning. When I returned home Evelyn once again helped Moses and me learn our routes. Evelyn walked them with us and helped me develop word cues for Moses to respond to or find. Even now my life changes; I go to different places or have to use different routes. Evelyn can help Moses and me learn to navigate new areas safely and efficiently.

I am including the following information and hope it will be helpful to anyone wanting to assist a blind or visually impaired person.

Orientation and Mobility Dos and Don’ts. 

 If you see a person who is blind who seems to be in need of assistance:

• DO introduce yourself and ask the person if he needs assistance.
• DO provide assistance if it is requested.
• DO respect the wishes of the person who is blind.
• DON’T insist upon trying to help if your offer of assistance is declined.

If a person who is blind asks you for directions:

• DO use words such as “straight ahead,” “turn left,” “on your right.”
• DON’T point and say “go that way” or “it’s over there.”

If you are asked to guide a person who is blind:

• DO allow the person you are guiding to hold your arm and follow as you walk.
• DO move your guiding arm behind your back when approaching a narrow space so the person you are guiding can step behind you and follow single-file.
• DO hesitate briefly at a curb or at the beginning of a flight of stairs.
• DO tell the person you are guiding whether the steps go up or down.
• DO allow the person you are guiding to find the handrail and locate the edge of the first step before proceeding.
• DON’T grab the person you are guiding by the hand, arm, or shoulder and try to steer him.
• DON’T grab the person’s cane or the handle of a dog guide’s harness.

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Last modified: 03/25/05