Orientation and mobility
The orientation and mobility training (O & M ) is a training program to people who are blind or have low vision helps, sure to be self-reliant and effective mobile and oriented.
History
The term is derived from the English "Orientation and Mobility ". The movement to systematize the lessons with the long cane, began during the Second World War in the United States by Warren Bledsoe, Richard Hoover and Russ Williams.
However, there is evidence that students are in individual schools for the blind have been instructed in the use of a wooden stick or rod in the 19th century, but only partially sure were in the handling of the stick; especially not so sure how that is required for the motorization of road transport.
During the Second World War, many soldiers were wounded in the eye in the course of hostilities, many of them blind. This was treated medically first in Valley Forge General Hospital and in Dibble General Hospital, then they were for rehabilitation after Avon (Connecticut) transferred. In Avon, there had been longer orientation classes in which it was taught to the trainees to respond appropriately to the environment to detect obstacles using echolocation to observe the surface condition of the floor covering, and internalize the room layout and pioneering distinctive points. The use of a cane was banned. Hoover and Bledsoe had you ever made preliminary studies on the echolocation of obstacles, but have found that echolocation was not enough. Echolocation, and corresponding current technical aids mainly supply any information on dangerous holes in the ground or on stairways. A floor was thus somehow necessary. Then Hoover developed together with blind, but physically robust soldiers as possible an effective and safe floor technique. After rejections he could see that a light pole that swung back and forth in front of the legs, which would probateste technology. This Hoover long pole technique was then called Tip Stick technology and revolutionized the safe, independant movement of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Definition
Orientation and mobility (O & M) involves teaching a visually disabled people to safely and effectively from one point of the environment to move to another desired. A definition of orientation is " orientation is the cognitive process in the use of the senses with which one can determine its own position and in relation to other objects can set his environment," and mobility is " the ability to safely from his position to one, located in a different environment to get target ". In simpler terms, find out: where you are and where the goal is (ie orientation), and mobility as the procedure safely and effectively to achieve goals.
O & M lessons
Since orientation and mobility is one of the cultural techniques, it is. Both in schools for children who are visually impaired or blind, as taught in the so-called inclusion For Späterblindete there are deviating individual concepts. Here, about 80 % of class time will be invested in the training of orientation. In order to build a proper orientation capability, in particular four areas need to be developed or will be a first body concept, a second environment concept, 3 an idea of the relationship between body and environment, and 4 an idea of a relationship between two environments. In short, the student must have a sense of the proportions in the near and distant surroundings. In later blinded these concepts can usually be found in a person who is born blind or blinded very early, they must be promoted, and acquired in the framework of concept formation. Specifically comes to the (fanciful) palpation of objects importance. Large objects can thereby, if any, are recorded and vergrifflicht only by a series of Tastvorgängen. In the orientation and mobility training later in particular terms of the architecture and spatial planning and urban planning play a central role.
For the successful development of a child, it is crucial, even all these areas to age-appropriate, through '. In children who are visually impaired or blind, they should be promoted during the sensitive periods, otherwise a 'normal ' development may be threatened. A major researcher in the development of children who are visually impaired or blind, is Lilli Nielsen, who has also developed in this regard learning materials.
In the O & M lessons are taught with and without a cane for a techniques, on the other trains the so-called residual sense. The combination of different techniques, and the rest of mind training make it possible to orient themselves and get to know and learn to cope with spaces. The other senses such as hearing, smell, temperature sense, touch and kinesthetic sense can it compensate for the loss of face in part if the trainee learns to relate this information to a space and to use for orientation. Training consists of a certain psychological support, in particular, it is necessary to cope with uncertainties and fears and build confidence in his acquired skill. A great theme can also be fear of loss when parents their child does not want to go alone on the road, the student, in turn, the protection of the parents do not want to leave, which can be an obstacle to its independence. Each student must learn to his limits and learn these extend through mind training and techniques, and his fears and overcome uncertainty in addition to acquire self-confidence and independence. Depending on the age, situation and needs of an individual training program is already developed for each student.
One of the main content is the learning of paths and trails, the safe crossing of roads, traffic lights and crosswalks. The routes must be learned by heart and should be done from the main routes from and extends the design concept of a place or a city gradually in different directions. Most of the way from home to school or workplace is learned first. It is learned the use of public transport, then the way to the doctor, pharmacy, post office, bank, bakery, supermarket, to places of leisure and recreation. The aim is that the student can find all places himself that he needs in daily life or which are essential to life, without being dependent on others. The student must at the end of the training from any location on a known route can find a reference point and from this again to find the orientation. This corresponds to the situation when he has lost.
For training can also include that sighted companions are instructed how they can develop new routes with the students together. This is important, for example, when the student arrives in a strange city or somewhere on vacation or visit.
An O & M training is adapted to the specific situation of the person. The orientation is easier to learn in a rural area or in a small town than in a big city with complicated traffic situations, many noise sources and complex transport. Additional training needs arise at multiple disabilities, mental or cognitive limitations, over-anxious or very young students or seniors with physical limitations. The need for training is shortened in people who still have a residual vision or have a very quick learner. The training therefore takes, depending on requirements from several weeks to a few months. If major changes in life arise in a person, a re- training needs may arise, for example when moving to another city or from city to country.
The teacher mobility
A mobility instructor must spend under a blindfold during his training for many hours. Only then is it her or him possible to apply the techniques of O & M itself, before being passed. Through this method to prevent a mobility teacher overwhelmed his later clients or students under - or. In addition to these very practical units whose mediation extending over months, or any specific theoretical and didactic teaching units must be completed. After a successful final exam, a mobility instructor to practice his profession. The work can be done at a school for the blind or freelancing in the context of employment, for example.
In principle has a mobility instructor for the training of blind persons themselves can see well because on one hand it specifically asks the trainees to go alone, on the other hand protects it by monitoring the (traffic ) events. In particular, he engages in threatening situations, corrects floor postures and techniques and controls the learning progress. Since 2011, however, blind mobility instructor from the USA are in Germany, Switzerland and especially in Austria increasingly in demand, as they have varied from personal experience human echolocation by clicking sonar, dealing with the long stick and strategies for orientation and mobility, and use new in this form and communicate. In Austria, for example, be used by Ministerialbeschlusss of 2012, regular U.S. O & M coach for the education and training of blind people.