It was found that clients who traveled often were younger (under age 25), women, had experienced little stress or change, needed no help when traveling or used a dog guide, and had become blind at a younger age. (Author)

The article describes a case study of a 14-year-old deaf/blind girl who was taught to use a modified cane. With the use of the cane, the S learned to walk more swiftly and with more confidence and was able to travel without the frustration she had previously felt. (PHR)

This article suggests ways that families of children with visual impairments can promote the travel skills of their children. Topics covered include ways to share information during travel, involving children in travel, involving children with nondrivers, helping adolescents who will not drive gain increased independence, and supporting young…

This article proposes the teaching of long cane mobility skills to blind preschool-age children. Traditional arguments against early cane use are refuted and possible advantages of early use identified. Strategies and techniques for cane introduction are specified. (DB)

The article reports successful training with traditional visually handicapped orientation and mobility methods of a woman with no visual impairment but a neurological processing deficit leaving her unable to process spatial relationships. (Author/DB)

Tangible tools needed by the instructor of orientation and mobility techniques for people with visual impairments include cane repair tools, a tape measure, a stopwatch, labeling materials, raised-line drawing equipment, a bicycle, compass and map, mace, and evaluation tools. (DB)

Issues related to promoting orientation and mobility training for individuals with visual impairments and diabetes are discussed, including effects of insulin, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, the timing of training, complications to the feet, and fluctuations in vision. Major lifestyle changes required by diabetes are stressed. (Author/SW)

The Connecticut Precane is a device made from plastic plumbing tubing and is used in orientation and mobility instruction with young blind children. It can be customized to the appropriate length, and runners made from curved tubing glide over surfaces without tending to change direction. A parts list for precane construction is included. (JDD)

A study, including research and practice notes by various authors, investigated whether extended training in an acoustically rich environment could enhance the spatial updating ability of 12 adults with congenital blindness. After training, the adults' distance perception from a home-base location and novel locations was superior to a sighted…

This article discusses the potential negligence-based liability risks that orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists often face when assisting students with visual impairments with independent travel in uncontrolled environments. It also presents strategies that may minimize the risks of O&M training for both students and specialists. (Contains…

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) causes restriction of the visual field, progressive vision loss, and night blindness. This article presents an overview of the most common problems in orientation and mobility (O&M) for individuals with RP, appropriate interventions, vision science discoveries related to RP, and the impact of RP on functional visual…

This article describes a group training program for sighted trainee orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors in South Africa, where the need for O&M instructors is great and the availability of services is limited. The outcome was positive and encouraging and provides the initiative for the findings to be more broadly applied and for…

This study evaluated variables that determined the safety of 15 cane users who were using the touch technique. The results showed that none of the walkers used a touch technique as described and recommended in the literature, that the detection of obstacles was related mainly to the height of the cane tip during the sweep, and that the early…

Five elementary-aged special needs students were taught to walk from the entrance of their school to classroom using prompt fading sequence and fading of teacher presence and verbal directions. Results showed both rapid skill acquisition contingent upon the specific training each S received and maintenance of behavior. (Author/CL)

This article describes the Community Service Program (CSP) established in 1998 by the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. The CSP, which consists of a team of professional service providers, provides rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility services, and job development services, and help in accessing…