orientation and mobility for blind person

RODER A. OGBAC SPET - I

ORIENTATION A blind person’s awareness of his physical position in relation to the physical position of all the significant and permanent objects in the environment.MOBILITY A blind person’s ability to move

from one place to another safety and independently.

Goals of Orientation A. Safe Travel

Elements of OrientationA. Physical Position

1. Where Am I? 2. Where Am I going to? 3.How can I get back?B. Significant and Permanent ObjectsC. Environment

B. Independence

Keywords in Orientation and MobilityA.SHORELINE – the guidelines of roads and

pathways, edge or border of any road.

B. CLUE – any environmental sound, odor, object or tactile information which can help the blind person determine his position or direction to move or to reach his objectives.

C. LANDMARK – any object, smell or sound or other environmental information which has a known and fiscal location in the environment which can be used by a blind person to identify his exact position in the environment. It should be the only one of its kind in the environment.

Characteristics of a good landmark:Easily identified by the clientLocated directly in the usual line of travelIs large enough not to be missed

D. VEERING – not being able to walk in a straight line but unconsciously drifting to the left or to the right but thinking you are walking straight ahead.

E. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF STREETS:

A. Parallel B. Perpendicular C. Curve

D. INTERSECTION

1. X – Cross 2. Y – Intersection

3. T – Intersection 4. Multiple Intersection

SENSORY ASPECTS of ORIENTATION and MOBILITYAuditory Awareness

A.SOUND ALIGNMENT – the ability to determine moving sound, where it is going and how fast it is moving.

B.SOUND DISCREMINATION – the ability to select from among the many sounds in the environment the one sound which will be useful for mobility.

C. SOUND LOCALIZATION – specific place where the sound is coming from.

D. SOUND IDENTIFICATION – to give name to something that is making the sound.

TOUCH AWARENESS

A. TACTILE IDENTIFICATION – using touch to identify objects.

B. TACTILE DISCRIMINATION – using the sense of touch to identify differences in similar objects.

C. TACTILE ANALYSIS – is the procedure by which a large teaching programme is sub-divided into smaller, more manageable, tasks. These small tasks are presented to the blind person in sequence, one at a time, and they form a series of steps through which he can accomplish the task.

D. KINESTHETIC SENSE - knowledge of the movement and position of the body.

Direction of turn Degree of Turn

Perception of Slope and Tilt

Measurement of Distance

Veering

1.SELF-PROTECTIVE TECHNIQUE

A. Lower Arm B. Upper Arm

C. Lower and Upper Arm

D. Trailing E. Squaring Off

2. SIGHTED GUIDE TECHNIQUES

A. MAKING CONTACT

Speak to make contact, introduce yourself. Ask the person if they require assistance and, if so, ask how they wish to be assisted. If the person requests the sighted guide technique then ask which side they wish to be guided on, stand alongside the person and let them take your arm.

When you are ready to begin walking with someone who is blind you may lightly touch the back of the blind person’s hand. The blind uses his hand to follow up the guide’s arm until he finds the elbow.

B. GRIP The blind person holds the guide’s arm slightly above the elbow so that his thumb is on the outside and his fingers curved to the inside. The grip should be tight enough so that the blind does not lose contact with the guides as they walk forward but not so tight that it is uncomfortable for the guide.

C. STANCE The blind should always be half-step behind the guide with his shoulder directly in line with the shoulder of the sighted guide. This is very important because it allows the guide to know the location of the blind person at all times. The guide's arm should be relaxed. The blind person’s arm should also be relaxed, bent at 90 degrees. The blind must pay attention to the body movements of the guide so that he can anticipate any step or change in direction.

D. CHANGING SIDE

On changing side, the guide should stay where he is, while the blind person keeps his hands on the guide’s back, slips in behind him, transferring his hold to the other arm of the guide and moves to the other side.

E. NARROW SPACES

For narrow aisles, doorways and other places where it is difficult to walk two abreast, the sighted guide should make a definite move with his arm backwards and over to the center of his back.

The blind person responds by straightening out his arm and stepping directly behind the sighted guide. Both the guide and blind are now in single file, one full pace apart. The blind person’s arm must remain fully extended to prevent either the guide or blind from tripping over the other’s feet.

When they have passed through the narrow place the sighted guide returns his arm to its normal position. When entering a long row of seats, the guide should proceed first and stop when the blind person is in front of his seat.

F. OPENING DOORS The blind person must be on the hinge side

of the door. If not, he changes side. As the guide and blind approach the door, the guide tells the blind, “We are coming to a door. It opens away from us and to the left.” The guide should then put the blind person’s hand on the door knob so that as they both pass through the door way, the blind will know where the door is and can avoid bumping into the edge of it. After passing through, the one who is blind should close the door and release his hold from the doorknob before they proceed further.

As the guide steps up on the first step, he should pause so that the blind can take a half-step forward until his toes touch the edge of the stairs. He now knows the exact location of the step. The guide stops when they reach the end of the stairs. This shows the blind that the guide has reached the bottom (or top).

The blind person follows the guide up the stairs always staying one step behind the guide. The guide should not walk up one step, stop and wait for the blind person then take another step, but rather he should walk up the stairs in the normal way with the one who is blind following behind.

I. SITTING AT THE TABLE

The technique used for sitting on a chair at a table is the same as approaching a chair from the back except for the following:

A. The blind person must pill the chair away from the table with one hand and the other hand holding at the edge of the tables.

B. He pulls the chair away with a space enough for him to take his seat facing the table.

C. After sitting down, the blind person must check to be sure that he is sitting straight with the table.

D. This is done by simply placing both hands on the edge of the table and moving them slightly to the left and right.

J. DINING

If a menu is provided, it should be quietly read to the blind. Other to cut up food. Make sure when pouring drinks or water, the glasses or cup is not filled up to the brim. To help locate the food, picture the plate as the face of a clock. For example , tell the blind person that the egg is at 5:00, the hotdog sandwich is at 9:00. Be sure to inform the blind if a glass of water is in front of him.

K. CONVERSING WITH A BLIND PERSON

Speak directly to a blind person. Never direct a question intended for them to someone else present. Talk in a normal voice. Because of the inability to establish eye contact, the tendency is to speak in a louder than normal voice. This not necessary and can be embarrassing. To initiate a dialogue, use the person’s name or lightly touch the arm of the one you are speaking to. It would be helpful to tell the blind person your age.

If a blind person is alone in a room, always identify yourself as you enter and excuse yourself as you leave.

If you need to give verbal instructions, make sure they are precise and clear and not dependent on visual information.

If you have to leave the blind person do not leave him in an open area or near a danger spot like a hole or open ditch.

Instead you should leave the blind person next to an object that he can touch like a chair, wall, tree or fence.

L. GENERAL ORIENTATION The blind person will need to be oriented to the general layout of an unfamiliar room or building. Give a brief description of the premises to the blind person. If desired, show them how to find the exits and the comfort room (CR). Show them where the wash basin and the stool or urinal is located in the CR. Warn them of any protruding objects or dangers such as open holes or drop-offs. If the blind person is to speak to a group of people show him which direction to face while speaking. Place their hands on the microphone for proper position.

3. CANE TECHNIQUE

A. Importance of Using Cane:

This cane is considered as an extension of a blind person’s arm. It tells him what is ahead of him.( Drop –offs, obstacles along the way, etc. in other words it clears his way.

B. Functions of Cane to bump

to support

to probe

C. Six (6) Considerations of Cane

1. Grip 2. Arm Position

3. Middle Position 4. Wrist Movement

5. Arc 6. Rhythm

Walking with friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

Helen Keller

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt in the heart.

Helen Keller