Resources for Orientation and Mobility Specialists

These sites are aimed at Orientation and Mobility Specialists, offering information, discussions, techniques and links to professional organizations and certification requirements.

Orientation and Mobility.org
http://www.orientationandmobility.org/
"This site was designed for Certified O&M Specialists…as an easier way to find information on the internet." It includes many links, articles, discussions, and additional resources.

An Orientation and Mobility/Community Based Instruction Infusion Scope and Sequence Chart
http://www.spedex.com/resource/documents/cbi/cbi.htm
This scope and sequence chart offers guidelines for community based instruction in the subject areas of Communication, Numeric Functions, Daily Living Skills, Law/Social Interactions, Personal/Recreation Skills, and Fine Art.

Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Blind Children, Doug Baldwin
http://www.wayfinding.net/refhome.htm
This e-book offers information on teaching orientation and mobility, including assessment and curriculum development.

The O&M Listening Test, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/vmi/listening-test.htm
This checklist includes recommendations for O&M specialists in working with students who may have difficulties with listening skills.

O&M Night Travel, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/night-travel.htm
This checklist names some basic criteria that O&M instructors consider when evaluating a student's night travel needs. 

Inventory of Purposeful Movement Behaviors, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/purposeful-movement-inventory.htm
This protocol is published in: Anthony, T. L., Shier Lowry, S., Brown, C. J., & Hatton, D. D. (2004).  Developmentally Appropriate Orientation and Mobility, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  It is an inventory of concepts and skills compiled by Tanni Anthony from various developmental checklists.

Orientation and Mobility Specialist Certification, Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP)
http://www.acvrep.org/Orientation_Mobility.htm
This site provides information regarding the certification requirements for Orientation and Mobility Specialists.

Orientation and Mobility Division of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
http://www.aerbvi.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=60
The website of AER's Orientation and Mobility Division contains information about the skills and responsibilities of Orientation and Mobility Specialists, a listing of training programs, and information about current issues in the field, such as environmental access.

Online Training

Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education (NERCVE), University of Massachusetts Boston
http://www.nercve.umb.edu/NERCVE offers online training in O&M, including  courses in Physical and Functional Aspects of O&M, O&M Assessment, Implications of Low Vision, and Psycho-social Aspects of Visual Impairments.