Confidence with canes and canines

Mobility and Orientation Training

Susan Hartley

Confidence in others…

Understand needs Understand anxiety Deliver good quality

services

meet & discuss perceived barriers from assessment to

training

The mobility trainers’ role:

Inspiring… Nurturing… Developing…

Confidence

DSA assessment: mobility

Previously acquired skills – reported & real Weather conditions Time of the year, time of the day Physical health Mental health Other life events ...for the student and the guide dog

Visual Acuity/Time Training

Assumption: report says student A has a better acuity than student B, learning a route will take less time for student A WRONG: degree of residual vision does NOT

indicate how long a person will take to learn a route for safe travel

Assumption: report says student A has a better acuity than student B, learning a route will be easier for student A WRONG: medical measurements of visual acuity

do NOT indicate how that well the individual uses their vision – functionally

Visual Acuity/Time

Field of vision important Most important: personality and the

individual’s:Confidence in primary mobility tool Confidence in route training and

self confidence in route skillsSelf confidence in orientation skills

New student: new city

Explore environment – why? Mental map for orientation

When?

Utopia - during the summer break Ideally - prior to the start of, or during

freshers’ week Reality - as soon as possible.

Why?

Less busy in and around the university campus

Student has more time

What?

Mobility & Orientation training:Sighted guide through routesVerbal explanation/description of environments

for orientationRoute work including public transportProvision of maps – verbal, tactile and large printUse of technologyTravel concessions

Who?

Local authority social services – sensory impairment team: rehabilitation worker

Local society for the blind, voluntary services: rehabilitation worker

Local/regional Guide Dogs for the Blind: mobility instructor, guide dog/route trainer

Specialist agency: locate M&O trainer Freelance mobility/orientation instructor

Confidence: sighted guide

Required:prior to student taking up route trainingduring time student undergoing initial route

training

Sighted guide skills safe guiding techniquesshadow instructor