Orientation and mobility
Last updated
Orientation and mobility is instruction that teaches students who are blind or visually impaired to travel safely and independently.
Topic: Vision and hearing
In plain terms
Orientation is knowing where you are and where you are going; mobility is moving there safely. A certified O&M specialist may teach using a long cane, following routes, crossing streets, using public transit and asking for help. O&M is a related service under IDEA and part of the expanded core curriculum.
How it shows up in an IEP
O&M goals describe routes and independence levels: "will travel from the classroom to the cafeteria using a cane with no more than one verbal cue." Data uses task analysis or prompt levels.
Example
A fifth grader practices the route from the bus loop to the classroom with an O&M specialist, moving from guided travel to independent travel with the cane over a semester.
The rule
Federal reference: 34 CFR §300.34(c)(7).
Related terms
- Expanded core curriculumThe expanded core curriculum is nine skill areas, beyond academics, that students who are blind or visually impaired need to learn directly.
- Visual impairment including blindnessUnder IDEA, visual impairment including blindness is a vision loss that, even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational performance.
- TVI (teacher of students with visual impairments)A TVI is a certified special education teacher who specializes in teaching students who are blind or have low vision.
- Related servicesRelated services are supports, such as speech therapy, transportation or counseling, that a student needs to benefit from special education.
- Deaf-blindnessUnder IDEA, deaf-blindness is combined hearing and vision loss that causes communication and learning needs no single-sense program can meet.
On IEP Atlas
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