A Welcome From Jordie: Retired Guide Dog Of Australia’s Human Rights and Disability Discrimination Commissioner

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-015

Editorial

Desirée Gallimore, Ph.D./ Mike Steer, Ph.D.

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-001

Environmental Rating Scale for Orientation and Mobility

Bruce B. Blasch, Ph.D./ Steven La Grow, Ed.D./ William Penrod, Ed.D.

This paper presents the concept of an environmental rating scale for Orientation and Mobility for blind and vision impaired persons. Such scales currently exist for describing the level of difficulty associated with ski slopes, white water rapids, mountain climbing, and golf courses, to name but a few. These scales serve as the basis for proposing a system which could lead to the standardisation of ratings of difficulty and complexity for this purpose as well. If successfully developed, such a s(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-002

The Guide Dog as a Mobility Aid Part 1: Perceived Effectiveness on Travel Performance

Janice K.F. Lloyd, Ph.D./ Steven La Grow, Ed.D./ Kevin J. Stafford, MVB, MSc., Ph.D., FRCVs, MACVSC./ R. Claire Budge, Ph.D.

This is the first of a two-part study that examined the effects of a guide dog as an aid to mobility; both parts are published in this issue of the IJOM. The first part demonstrates the perceived effectiveness of the dog on travel performance, and the second part describes changes to travel habits, as well as advantages and disadvantages of guide dog mobility. In this first part of the study, the travel performance of 50 people who were blind or vision impaired was investigated retrospectively w(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-003

The Guide Dog as a Mobility Aid Part 2: Perceived Changes to Travel Habits

Janice K.F. Lloyd, Ph.D./ Steven La Grow, Ed.D./ Kevin J. Stafford, MVB, MSc., Ph.D., FRCVs, MACVSC./ R. Claire Budge, Ph.D.

This article describes the second of a two-part study that examined the effects of a guide dog as an aid to mobility. The first part, which is also published in this issue, showed that dogs were perceived to significantly improve travel performance, irrespective of the participants’ orientation and mobility skills before receiving the dog. The second part of the study describes the changes a dog makes to travel habits. In this second part, the travel habits of 50 people who were blind or vision (..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-004

The Benefits of Using Echolocation to Safely Navigate Through the Environment

Jodi Brazier, B.A., Grad. Dip. Ed., M. Spec. Ed.

This study investigated participant use of echolocation skills. Specifically participants were asked to describe what methods they used to generate sound, and what echolocation assisted them to do in terms of their orientation and mobility (O&M). Contrary to previous research findings, it was found that most participants preferred to use cane tapping to generate sound. Possible reasons for this finding are discussed. Participants reported that echolocation assisted them to self-orientate and det(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-005

Principles for Providing Orientation and Mobility to People with Vision Impairment and Multiple Disabilities

Dona Sauerburger, M.A., C.O.M.S./ Eileen Siffermann, M.A., M.Ed., C.O.M.S./ Sandra Rosen, Ph.D., C.O.M.S.

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-006

The Missing Link: A Collaborative Approach to Early Childhood Orientation and Mobility

Kylie Wells, Dip. Tchg., Grad. Cert. Ed. Studies, M. Spec. Ed.

The current role of the Orientation & Mobility (O&M) instructor routinely involves working with young children (birth to 6 years). The inclusion of this population to the caseload of O&M instructors brings with it unique challenges. Young children’s primary means of learning comes in the form of play, yet O&M traditionally tends to focus on skill specific instruction. For young children who are blind or vision impaired the ability to move out into space independently and with confidence will imp(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-007

Inclusive Employer: A Guide Dog School’s Trial to Employ a Blind Instructor

Kristin Lucas, M.A., C.O.M.S.

Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. (GDB) provides enhanced mobility to qualified individuals through partnership with dogs whose unique skills are developed and nurtured by dedicated volunteers and a professional staff. In 2005, GDB expanded its vision to be a more inclusive and diverse employer. A trial commenced to determine the feasibility of the current instructor position being filled by a blind person. To complete this trial a qualified individual was hired to undergo task analysis of all job (..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-008

The Three Most Important Factors Every Orientation and Mobility Instructor Needs to Know when Working with Guide Dogs

Ray Joyce, Cert. Dog Handler, Dip. O&M

The author discusses three important factors that need to be considered by Orientation & Mobility (O&M) instructors when working with clients that are guide dog users. These include: that the work of a guide dog can be influenced by the presence of the O&M instructor during training; the significance of straight line travel; and the importance of using such O&M techniques as guiding, directional cues and landmarks.    

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-009

Early Intervention Orientation and Mobility: A Western Australian Perspective

Bronwen Scott, Grad. Cert. Vision Impairment (O&M)

Early intervention Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training is a key component of the Western Australian Department of Education’s Vision Education Service. Children who are blind or have vision impairments are introduced to O&M skills, including the long cane, as soon as they are able to walk. A description of the service is provided, with some basic concepts and ideas for O&M specialists working with very young children. A key factor in the success of this program is collaboration between profess(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-010

Should We Rethink Toxoplasmosis?

Michael G. Gleeson, B. App. Sc., (Phty), M. Spec. Ed.

Historically, acute infections by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) were not considered problematic in children and adults. Congenital infections caused concern due to effects on the developing foetus. Unless severe, symptoms such as chorioretinitis often only appeared later with periodic reactivation of chronic infection. Current thinking about the role of T. gondii has changed substantially. Researchers now believe that acute infections in children and adults, and their periodic reactivation once (..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-011

Opening Eyes and Opening Doors

Laura de Haseth Meddens

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-012

Shuffling the Deckchairs: Multi-agency Working and the Continuing Lack of Identification of People with Vision Impairments

John Ravenscroft, Ph.D.

Many orientation and mobility (O&M) professionals working to meet the needs of children and adults with vision impairment may do so as a part of multi-agency rehabilitation teams. However, from a study of current literature in the fields of vision impairment, multiple-disability and intellectual disability, it is apparent that multiagency participation does not invariably identify with accuracy, all those requiring a service. This article discusses how those professionals working in multi-agency(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-013

A Balance Act: Physiotherapy as a Prerequisite to Orientation and Mobility Services

Louise Chambers/ Jasan Dannaway

The School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia initiated a community practicum for fourth year physiotherapy students. The goal was to broaden student’s perspectives about how allied health areas such as Orientation & Mobility (O&M) services are movement based similar to that of physiotherapy services. The authors participated in a five-week practicum at an organisation that provides O&M services to clients with vision impairment. It was observed that so(..)

DOI: 10.21307/ijom-2008-014