The “O” Professionals

Orientation/Mobility Specialist

Orientation and mobility training (O & M) (Fig. 1) helps a blind or visually impaired child know where he or she is in space and where he or she wants to go (orientation). It also helps the child to be able to carry out a plan to get there (mobility). Orientation and mobility skills work best if started during the first year of life or during the preschool years. The skills include basic body awareness and movement exercises, including storytelling activities, as shown in this image. This training needs to continue until children grow older. This way, they will become adults with skills that allow them to move around their community, and get everywhere they need to go efficiently, effectively, and safely. In British Columbia, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children provides support for children with visual impairments and their families.

Figure 1. Orientation mobility specialist