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Chapter 14. History and Progression of the Profession of Orientation & Mobility. Early Professional Devlopments. Gloucester Conference (1953) - - Father Thomas Carroll – discussed the need for trained personnel outside the VA
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Chapter 14 History and Progression of the Profession of Orientation & Mobility
Early Professional Devlopments • Gloucester Conference (1953) - - Father Thomas Carroll – discussed the need for trained personnel outside the VA • U.S. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (1958) – identified education of O&M specialists as 2nd highest priority in field of VI. • National Conference on O&M (1959) • identified 3 main needs: • Selection of O&M personnel • Length of preparation – one year graduate study • Curriculum • Techniques and practice of O&M • Dynamics of human behavior as it relates to blindness • Functions of the human body • Study of the senses • Cultural and psychological implications of blindness
Development of University Programs • Federal grants provided funding for the first University O&M programs • Boston College (1960) • Western Michigan (1961) • 1962 – VRA awarded 30 grants in 22 states. Paid salaries of O&M’s in the field from these two programs. • 1966 – Demand for university trained O&M’s was so high, another conference was held. More grants awarded. • SFA (1972) • Currently 21 programs in the world (19 in USA, 1 in Canada, 1 in NZ)
The Shift to Distance Education • Done, simply, because: • It’s more cost-effective • It puts more people in the field in a shorter amount of time • Is it effective? • Time has proven that the individual, not the service delivery model, is the determining factor in educational effectiveness.
Professional Associations • AAWB : 1895-1984 • Division IX (O&M interest group) 1964 • AAIB : 1871-1968 • AEVH : 1968-1984 • AER : 1984 –
Development of Agency Standards • COMSTAC report – (Commission on Standards and Accreditation of Services for the Blind – 1966). • Recommended: • formulation of standards for agency administration and service programs • An organization to administer a nationwide system of voluntary accreditation based on these standards • Led to certification of O&M specialists • NAC – National Accreditation Council was created • Recommended to agencies seeking accreditation employ certified O&M specialists.
Code of Ethics • Appendix A of Foundations, Volume 1 contains the current code of ethics
Standardization of Preparation and Certification • University Program review (National/international) • Functional Abilities Assessment (No longer used) • Included: • Corrected vision of 20/20 in each eye with no field restrictions or evidence of a progressive loss (later changed to 20/40 to reflect drivers license standards) • Good physical health • Ability to monitor a student up to 375 feet away (Now 6-20 feet) • Assessing various travel situation that included scanning and perceiving an environmental configuration of no less than 300 degrees within 3 seconds • Tracking and describing traffic in a lighted intersection during typical rush-hour traffic • ACVREP (2000) • Exam • Certification • Re-certification • NOMC/NBPCB
Issues • OMA’s – teaching O&M to individuals without visual impairments • Visual occlusion during O&M instruction • Instruction for street crossings at signalized intersections • Group or individual lessons
Future Issues • Licensure and state certification • Third-party reimbursement (federal and state insurance plans) • Medicare reimbursement