Webinar: The Wonderful White Cane

Orientation & Mobility Training Options at Leader Dog

Leader Dogs for the Blind understands the importance for someone who is blind or visually impaired to develop strong orientation & mobility (O&M) skills to increase their travel independence. Whether someone is new to using a white cane, wants to prepare for training with a guide dog or is a long-time cane user who experienced further sight loss, O&M Training at Leader Dog can be tailored to fit their needs.

Join us as we explain O&M, what skills are taught during training, application requirements and how we can partner with certified orientation & mobility specialists (COMS) throughout the U.S. and Canada to help ease caseloads.

View our previous webinar, “New Guide Dog Training Options and Summer Experience Camp.”

If you would like to be notified of future webinars, please email Rachelle Kniffen with your request.

Meet Your Host and Presenters

Erica Ihrke has been Leader Dog’s manager of extended services since 2008. She earned her master’s degree in orientation and mobility from Western Michigan University. She is currently a member of the O&M Subject Matter Expert Committee for the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals and is a past president of Michigan Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).

Erica is an in-demand speaker and has presented at several AER International Conferences and the International Mobility Conference on the topics of guide dog readiness, alternative models of O&M, and accessible GPS.

Rod Haneline has been a member of the Leader Dog team since 1979, Rod currently oversees O&M, GPS and guide dog training as the chief programs and services officer. He has also served as director of client services and was a guide dog mobility instructor for 12 years.

Rod is internationally recognized for his extensive knowledge in developing advanced orientation and mobility (O&M) instructional programs. He has developed integrated methods for the use of canes and dogs as well as GPS in both O&M and guide dog programs.

David Locklin has 17 years experience in guide dog training. His career started with Guide Dogs for the Blind in the United Kingdom where he was a guide dog mobility instructor for seven years before becoming their service delivery manager.

Since 2014, David has been Leader Dog’s director of programs, overseeing the training department and the outreach services & community engagement department. Among David’s responsibilities is ensuring that all programs meet International Guide Dog Federation standards and that the needs of all clients are being met.