Can a 14- month-old REALLY use a long cane?

How we taught early O&M in Western Australia

Bronwen ScottEdD candidate - University of Sydney

O&M Specialist Independent Options for Mobility

Melbourne, Australia

Research•What is the meaning of the long

cane to children, families and teachers?

•What did we do that worked?

•What do you do that works for you?

•What is blocking you from working with very young children?

›Australia’s population (2011)

›22 696 000

›Western Australia›2 366 900

›Mostly situated in Perth and the south-west corner

Results

•3 categories of meaning:

•Knowledge and empowerment

•Social meaning of O&M

•Independence and family

Long cane?or

Adaptive mobility device?

“I liked the idea of her having a cane

straight away”(parent)

Parents said...•recognisable

•immediate understanding

•confidence

•independence

I think obviously it was very exciting because the really really tiny ones that we first started with knew it, it was incredible. It was instinctive. It was almost as if they knew that it was something that could help them find their way about without any great long explanations. (teacher)

Video•Hands-off approach from O&M

Specialist

•Use of conceptual language

•Child still using feet to check step depth

•{video clip}

Opportunities for spontaneous learning

•{video clip}

Coloured canes

•It makes it attractive. It makes it easy for other people to share something in common, makes it easier for people to relate. (teacher)

What did we do that worked?

Empowering teachers and

parents

Professional O&M input

Support from the school

Blocks to providing early O&M services

Preconceptions around blindness

Traditional arguments against

early long cane use

Lack of O&M Specialists

Children not being referred for O&M until they reach

school age

What did I learn?Don’t

underestimate what children can

do!

{video clip}

What do you do that works for you?

Thank You Contact details:

bronscott@iinet.net.auhttp://www.options4mobility.com.a

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