confidence with canes and canines mobility and orientation training susan hartley
TRANSCRIPT
Confidence with canes and canines
Mobility and Orientation Training
Susan Hartley
Confidence in others…
Understand needs Understand anxiety Deliver good quality
services
meet & discuss perceived barriers from assessment to
training
The mobility trainers’ role:
Inspiring… Nurturing… Developing…
Confidence
DSA assessment: mobility
Previously acquired skills – reported & real Weather conditions Time of the year, time of the day Physical health Mental health Other life events ...for the student and the guide dog
Visual Acuity/Time Training
Assumption: report says student A has a better acuity than student B, learning a route will take less time for student A WRONG: degree of residual vision does NOT
indicate how long a person will take to learn a route for safe travel
Assumption: report says student A has a better acuity than student B, learning a route will be easier for student A WRONG: medical measurements of visual acuity
do NOT indicate how that well the individual uses their vision – functionally
Visual Acuity/Time
Field of vision important Most important: personality and the
individual’s:Confidence in primary mobility tool Confidence in route training and
self confidence in route skillsSelf confidence in orientation skills
New student: new city
Explore environment – why? Mental map for orientation
When?
Utopia - during the summer break Ideally - prior to the start of, or during
freshers’ week Reality - as soon as possible.
Why?
Less busy in and around the university campus
Student has more time
What?
Mobility & Orientation training:Sighted guide through routesVerbal explanation/description of environments
for orientationRoute work including public transportProvision of maps – verbal, tactile and large printUse of technologyTravel concessions
Who?
Local authority social services – sensory impairment team: rehabilitation worker
Local society for the blind, voluntary services: rehabilitation worker
Local/regional Guide Dogs for the Blind: mobility instructor, guide dog/route trainer
Specialist agency: locate M&O trainer Freelance mobility/orientation instructor
Confidence: sighted guide
Required:prior to student taking up route trainingduring time student undergoing initial route
training
Sighted guide skills safe guiding techniquesshadow instructor