Mobility training for the older blind: a common sense approach - Orientation and Mobility for Blind People

American Rehabilitation, Autumn-Winter, 1997 by L. James Witte

As the older person who is blind adjusts to owning and using a cane, the mobility teacher may find it necessary to make more modifications for his training than for a younger blind person. Some older blind individuals live at home, while others are residents of nursing homes. Some may have no orthopedic problems, while others may be using a walker, a support cane, or a wheelchair. Various approaches have been developed for dealing with these situations. Some older blind people, for example, use a lightweight long cane in conjunction with crutches or walkers or support canes. Some wheelchair users have found electronic mobility devices to be helpful.

Common sense and creativity are also helpful in choosing an optimal location for mobility training for the older blind. The mobility teacher usually works with an individual in his place of residence. Some agencies, however, have successfully modified this approach. One such modification is to have several older blind individuals attend a minitraining center each day for a week or two. Located in a central geographical area and staffed by one or two rehabilitation teachers, this approach makes a maximum use of staff, allows for the teaching of several skills, including mobility, and provides the opportunity for blind persons to share experiences and notions about blindness with each other. A second modification uses a residential training center for the blind to allow a larger group of older blind persons to live for a time in an atmosphere most conducive to dealing with the problems of blindness and to take advantage of all of the available instructional facilities. A third approach involves using peers as resources to help newly blinded older persons learn the skills and self-confidence necessary for living independently.

In working with older blind individuals, the mobility instructor is likely to encounter many problems that have already been solved by others. Discussing those problems with other mobility teachers can be helpful. Valuable information can also be found in many publications. The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness has published many articles on mobility issues. The American Foundation for the Blind has also published numbers of books and articles written by practitioners in the field. Organizations of the blind, including the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind, can also be very useful resources.

The best advice, though, that can be given to a mobility instructor who works with older persons who are blind is this: If you know and understand the skill and have the ability to teach--do it. Too many older blind persons are still being denied the opportunity to lead full lives because they do not have the opportunity to learn the necessary skills and develop self-confidence.

Mr. Witte, formerly Program Administrator of the Orientation and Adjustment Center, State of Iowa Department for the Blind, is now retired.

RELATED ARTICLE: Library of Congress to Explore Educational Reading Services for Print Handicapped Students