Vision allows us to access our surroundings.  It enables us to gather information about where we are and where we are going. 

Orientation is the process of using this information to establish and maintain our position in an environment.  Mobility is the process of moving ourselves from one place to another. 

People with severe vision loss must learn to use hearing, touch, smell, remaining vision, and memory to access the information in their environments and stay oriented within those places. 

They must also learn the techniques and skills that enable them to avoid obstacles and safely traverse their environments. 

Orientation & Mobility Specialists provide:

• Functional travel evaluations
• Positional, spatial, environmental concept development
• Orientation and self-protective techniques
• Sighted guide and cane instruction for safe walking
• Safe street-crossings techniques, route planning, GPS and public transportation skills within the community
• Assertiveness and self-advocacy instruction
• Practice accessing community places for independent shopping
• Consultation/in-service training for parents, teachers, school personnel and sighted peers
• Referrals to Guide Dog Schools.

The goal of O&M instruction is for the person with vision loss to travel in their environments as safely, confidently, efficiently and independently as possible.

Working one-on-one, Invision’s O&M specialists provide instruction and environmental experiences that teach the concepts, skills and techniques that enable students in the public schools and adults in their home settings to reach their goals and destinations community-wide.