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Orientation and Mobility. What is Orientation and Mobility?. Orientation – learning where one is in space, also in relation to other people or things Mobility – the ability to travel as independently as possible. COMS. Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
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What is Orientation and Mobility? Orientation – learning where one is in space, also in relation to other people or things Mobility – the ability to travel as independently as possible
COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist • Masters degree or certificate program • Board certified and must renew certification every 5 years
Roles of COMS • Evaluation and assessment of students (familiar and unfamiliar environments) • Help teachers, students, and parents create goals • Skills addressed: body awareness, environmental awareness, and independent navigation strategies • Teach others about need for OM services • Provide services in school, home, and other environments • Lesson planning and creating materials (i.e. maps) • Education of devices/adaptive equipment
Why Start Early • Lack of visual motivation/Get child interested in discovering their environment(s) • Building strength • Pre-canes/AMDs provide more support and balance for movement • Alleviating fears of new activities • Body awareness • Concept development
OM in the School • Pull-out service (student taken out of class) • Familiarization to school/classrooms/hallway routes before school year begins • Familiarization to nearby places: community areas, playgrounds, neighborhood • Work with PE teacher for adaptive ideas or equipment (i.e. beeper or bell ball) • Work with school personnel, families, and student to make school environment safer (highlighting/taping curbs, ramps, stairs, door jambs)
Transitioning • Preparing high school students for transitioning to college and/or work • Scheduling • Public transportation (buses, taxis, dial-a-bus) • Orienting to college campus • Orienting to the job placement • Technology • Tablets • Smartphones • GPS • Money Readers • Bar Code Readers
Sighted Guide (Guide etiquette) • Ask if the person would like sighted guide • Ask which side they would like to walk on • Lightly touch person’s arm so they find you • If you are briefly leaving the person being guided, orient them to a secure spot before leaving.
Canes Long Cane (Rigid or Folding) Kiddie Cane • Cane length depends on user’s height • Usually white with red, now available in multiple colors • Golf club grip with a flat side (index finger) • Meant to cover walking path to free the user to look in front
Other Equipment • Monocular • Beeper/bell ball • Bar code readers • Money Readers • GPS Systems
Simulators • Visionsim