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 skills  Self 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 routes  Verbal explanation/description of environments for orientation  Route work including public transport  Provision of maps – verbal, tactile and large print  Use of technology  Travel 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 training  during time student undergoing initial route training Sighted guide skills  safe guiding techniques  shadow instructor