Verification Technique (V-Tech)

1. Verification Technique (V-Tech) Daniel Glinn, COMS SCAER 2013

2. Itinerary • Introductions • Presentation • Demonstration • Guided Practice • Evaluation

3. History of V-Tech • Started in Palo Alto VA • Circa late 1970’s- early 80’s • Personal History with V-Tech

4. Good Candidates • Low Vision Traveler with stable eye conditions • No progressive disorders • Examples: • Unilateral vision loss/ depth perception issues • Students that stare at the ground in front of them • Students that use the cane for ID purposes

5. Prerequisites • Student must demonstrate • Straight line of travel • Good spatial orientation • Visual Skills • Potential to recognize and navigate around ground obstacles • Potential to recognize drop-offs • Consistent visual functioning in various light situations

6. Cane Mechanics for V-Tech • Cane Skills must be taught with the incorporation of Systematic Scanning Skills!!! • Cane in the non-dominate hand (when possible) • Index finger grip • Relax arm next to body • Cane tip extended in diagonal position two (2) feet from trunk of the body

7. Variations of Cane Use for V-Tech • Feather tip • Light touch on ground (Lift and Land) • Continuous Slide • Keep tip on ground. Sliding forward. (This is good for arthritic hands or children with difficult maintaining correct hand position) • Selective Constant Contact • Tip touches ground when approaching drop-offs or terrain changes. • Continuous Constant Contact • Arms still relaxed and to the side. May use wither hand for full coverage.

8. Scanning Patterns for V-Tech • When teaching, travelers visual land marking should be taught after visual scanning skills are mastered. • Vertical Scanning • Head to Chest • Detect obstacles supporting objects • Indoors looking at cabinets or cupboards • Outdoors looking at branches • Chest to Ground • Low obstacles, terrain changes, drop-offs, intersecting driveways/ hallways etc • Horizontal Scanning • Eyes move left to right

9. Other Scanning Methods • 3 levels of Scanning • Horizontal scanning going from left to right progressing from top through the middle to the bottom • Fisherman’s Technique • Vertical scanning going from top to bottom progressing from the left to the right

10. 5 point Scanning Method • 5 point scanning method used for crossing streets. • Clockwise • Involve looking left to near side perpendicular traffic • As you cross the median, need to look over your shoulder for right shoulder for left turners coming into your lane • Look directly to your right for far side perpendicular traffic that is coming thru the intersection • Look directly in front to the right for right hand turners coming into your line of travel • Finding the Curb

11. 5 point Scanning Method continued • Counter Clock Wise • Before stepping off the curb, look over left shoulder for right turners that are coming into your line of travel • As you begin to cross street, look to your left for near side perpendicular traffic. • Look slightly to your left in front for left turners coming into your line of travel • As you cross the median, look to your right for far side perpendicular traffic. • Find the Curb.

12. Practice • Break up into groups of 2 or 3 people • 1 person is the teacher, 1 person is the student. • Grab a Cane and a set of Vision Simulators.

13. Questions??? • Please don’t forget to fill out your Evaluation form. • Thank you and Enjoy the rest of the Conference!