What is Orientation and Mobility Instruction?

For the nearly 20 million people in the US living with blindness or low vision, orientation and mobility (O&M) instruction provides vital skills to help them live safely, confidently and independently.

Orientation and mobility instruction is tailored to each person’s unique needs and circumstances—including the degree of vision loss, personal goals and abilities. Orientation and mobility training is often an essential part of vision rehabilitation for people of all ages with vision loss.

Orientation and mobility instruction is conducted by highly trained vision rehabilitation specialists called certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS). Instruction occurs in various environments the client frequents, including home, school, work and community. Instruction helps adults living with blindness and low vision navigate their environment, including these key areas:

• Orientation: Teaches people living with vision loss how to recognize, map and gain a greater understanding of where they are in their at all times in home, work and community environments.
• Environmental and spatial awareness: Helps people living with blindness or low vision to navigate safely within a variety of spaces — home, work, other indoor spaces and a broad range of outdoor environments, including streets, sidewalks and crosswalks, public transportation, buildings, stores, parks and more.
• Mobility: Teaches how to travel from one location to another safely in real-life settings for maximum impact. Mobility instruction often includes white cane training. Once orientation and mobility instruction concludes, some may wish to receive additional support from a dog guide, which requires added instruction.
• Assistive technology: An increasing array of technology is available to assist people living with blindness and low vision. Technology aids in orientation and mobility and continued navigation through varying environments. Some examples include smartphone apps, including GPS-based ones that deliver audible messages, talking GPS, and electronic travel aids that provide auditory cues or vibrations. More apps are also being enhanced with AI technology for a more comprehensive and personalized experience.

Orientation and mobility skills provide people living with vision loss greater control of their daily lives, reducing reliance on others, restoring self-confidence, and improving safety and quality of life.

Orientation and mobility at home can extend to creating a safe and accessible space. Adults living with blindness and low vision are at an increased risk of falls, the leading cause of injury among older adults. According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in four Americans aged 65 and older experience a fall each year. Vision impairment more than doubles this risk. In addition to learning how to safely move throughout the home, decluttering and removing trip hazards, including area rugs and electrical cords, is also crucial. Safety can be enhanced through optimized (and consistent) furniture arrangements, appropriate lighting, textured surfaces, and contrast. Utilizing a labeling system with braille, textures or audio labels can further reduce accidents and injury is an important part of living skills training.

Orientation and Mobility at Work! Despite the recent increases in remote/at-home employment opportunities, many people living with blindness or low vision still travel to work offices and facilities each day. Orientation and mobility instruction often includes on-site training to help one safely and efficiently navigate their work environment.

Orientation and mobility skills help reframe the future for people living with blindness and low vision by increasing independence, improving safety, and enhancing quality of life.

Written by VisionServe Alliance.