Orientation and Mobility

Overview

Movement with independence in the environment has been stated to be one of the major challenges of vision loss. In order to facilitate their meaningful empowerment, it is necessary to provide students with visual impairment skills and techniques which enable them to cope with these chanllenges. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) is a critical area for students with visual impairments as it is essential for the student to learn to move safely and efficiently and as independently as possible through all environments.The present course carrying the same title introduces the learners to various crucial aspects of this vital subject. It is hoped that through the study of the course, the student-teachers would be in a better position to understand the implications of vision loss with reference to independent movement. It would also enable them to get insights into basic skills and components essential for meaningful orientation and easy and graceful movement for the visually impaired.

Syllabus

Week - I 1. Effect of visual impairment on growth and development: Physical, Motor, Language, Socio-emotional, and Cognitive development 2. Effects of Visual Impairment on Personality Development - Verbalism & Mannerism 3. What is Orientation and Mobility? Week - II 4. Orientation and Mobility - Definition, Importance and Scope 5. Basic Terminologies Associated with O&M: Trailing, Landmarks, Clues, Cues, Shoreline, Squaring Off, Clockwise Direction, Sound Masking, Sound Shadow 6. Roles of Other Senses in O&M Training Week- III 7. Orientation and Mobility for low vision children 8. Addressing orientation, mobility & educational needs of students with deaf-blindness 9. Special Responsibilities of Special Teacher/Educator with reference to O&M Training Week - IV 10. Blindfold - Rationale and Uses for the Teacher 11. Human-Sighted Guide Techniques Week - V 12. a) Cane Travel Techniques and Devices Part - 1 13. b) Cane Travel Techniques and Devices Part - 2 Week - VI 14. Independent living skills - Meaning, Importance, Components 15. Training in Independent Living Skills - Self Care, Gait and Posture, Personal Grooming, Eating Skills and Etiquette, Identification of Coins and Currency Notes & Basics of Signature Writing 16. Daily living skills - assessment of needs and techniques of teaching age appropriate daily living skills Week - VII 17. Sensory efficiency - importance and procedures for training auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, kinaesthetic senses and residual vision 18. Techniques of teaching social interaction skills, leisure and recreation skills and self -determination 19. Adaptation of Physical education activities and Yoga Week - VIII 20. Adaptation of Games and Sports - both Indoor and Outdoor 21. Agencies for sports -Visually Impaired