Orientation & Mobility for Adults & Elders

Find O&M and independent travel advice and resources for adults who are blind or visually impaired, and for the professionals working with them.  Additional information on Orientation and Mobility for seniors can be found in our section on Seniors.

Adaptive Orientation and Mobility for Physically Limited Elderly Veterans
Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Service
Compiled for clients of Veteran Administration services, this list of adaptive O&M approaches takes into consideration the signature injuries of current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (OIF and OEF, respectively)

Blind Pedestrians and the Changing Technology and Geometry of Signalized Intersections: Safety, Orientation, and Independence
Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 99(10). 2005
This study "documented that blind pedestrians have considerable difficulty locating crosswalks, aligning to cross, determining the onset of the walk interval, maintaining a straight crossing path, and completing crossings before the onset of perpendicular traffic at complex signalized intersections. Revised techniques and strategies are suggested for alleviating these difficulties."

Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane: Instructions in Cane Travel for Blind People
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
This booklet is written by a cane traveler and covers aspects of cane travel, such as Getting the Cane Ready, Actually Walking Around, Public Transportation, and Times and Places without the Usual Landmarks.

Changing Your Home
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
This section of the AFB Senior Site offers practical suggestions for modifications in the home, such as lighting, increased contrast, and organization; includes a video.

Getting Around All Over Town
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
The AFB Senior Site has information on numerous topics, such as Understanding Vision Loss, Changing Your Home, and Daily Living.  This section explains the basics of orientation and mobility, and includes a video.

Knowledge of and Preferences for Long Cane Components:  A Qualitative and Quantitative Study
Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 99(10). 2005
This article "reviews the literature on the various components of long canes and reports on a study of the knowledge and preferences of 100 adults … regarding the various components and types of canes…. [T]he terrain of a route, weather conditions, mobility demand, and purpose of an outing are important factors when choosing a cane."

So What About Independent Travel
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
An introduction to cane use, and outlines some of the elements of independent travel, such as sound, landmarks, and public transportation. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)