Presentation about services provided by Pudulogong By; Mr. M G Pheko centre coordinator And Mr. T Kebuileng (O&M Instructor)

Pudulogong Rehabilitation and Development Trust for the Blind HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Pudulogong Rehabilitation and Development is a charitable non-profit making organization, which came into being in 1982 as an initiative of the Dutch Reformed Church in Botswana. It is located in Phaphane ward in Mochudi in the Kgatleng District. Pudulogong was established as a result of the Visually Impaired People in the country who had no where to go due to lack of suitable skills for employment. It is the first of its kind in the country, as the educational system did not have provisions for the Disabled Persons. By then, the Centre was offering basic handicraft skills.

Pudulogong Vision Vision Our vision is to be a world-class provider of quality, accessible and equitable training of the Visually Impaired People. Our vision is to be a world-class provider of quality, accessible and equitable training of the Visually Impaired People.

Pudulogong Mission Mission To provide quality training to Visually Impaired People and to create opportunities for life long learning to enable people to attain their full potential and contribute to national socio-economic and technological advancement. To provide quality training to Visually Impaired People and to create opportunities for life long learning to enable people to attain their full potential and contribute to national socio-economic and technological advancement. This will be achieved through efficient and effective management, development and implementation of relevant and responsive training policies and the provision of an enabling learning environment. This will be achieved through efficient and effective management, development and implementation of relevant and responsive training policies and the provision of an enabling learning environment.

Pudulogong TRAINING PROGRAMME TRAINING PROGRAMME The Centre has two major Training Programmes: The Centre has two major Training Programmes: - Independence Training - Independence Training - Vocational Training - Vocational Training - (Pudulogong is BOTA accredited and is examined by MTTC, Pitmans & IBS) - (Pudulogong is BOTA accredited and is examined by MTTC, Pitmans & IBS)

Pudulogong Independence Training Independence Training Braille Braille Orientation and Mobility Orientation and Mobility Activities of Daily Living Activities of Daily Living Social Work Services Social Work Services Recreational activities Recreational activities This training enables an individual to become confident and not depend on other people for mobility and daily routine activities. This training enables an individual to become confident and not depend on other people for mobility and daily routine activities.

Pudulogong Vocational Training Vocational Training Secretarial Studies Secretarial Studies Business Studies Business Studies Agriculture Agriculture Music Music HIV & AIDS Education HIV & AIDS Education

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) What is orientation? What is orientation? Orientation can be defined as the ability to use ones remaining senses to understand ones location in the environment at any given time (Jacobson, 1993 p.3). Orientation can be defined as the ability to use ones remaining senses to understand ones location in the environment at any given time (Jacobson, 1993 p.3). It is the process of using the senses to establish one’s position and relationship to all other significant objects in the environment.

O&M Cont…. Mobility is the capacity or facility of movement. Mobility is the capacity or facility of movement. O&M may be defined, then, as the teaching of the concepts, skills, and techniques necessary for a person with visual impairment to travel safely, efficiently, and gracefully through any environment and under all environmental conditions and situations. O&M may be defined, then, as the teaching of the concepts, skills, and techniques necessary for a person with visual impairment to travel safely, efficiently, and gracefully through any environment and under all environmental conditions and situations.

O&M Cont…. O&M Instructors are individuals who are formally trained/ educated to help persons with visual impairments attain their O&M goals. O&M Instructors are individuals who are formally trained/ educated to help persons with visual impairments attain their O&M goals. Other professionals who reinforce certain basic skills include: teachers, rehabilitation officers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, the nurse and the low vision specialists or an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Other professionals who reinforce certain basic skills include: teachers, rehabilitation officers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, the nurse and the low vision specialists or an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.

Challenges Lack of equipments Lack of equipments Shortage of Brailed material and learning aids Shortage of Brailed material and learning aids Lack of skilled manpower Lack of skilled manpower Shortage of training facilities Shortage of training facilities Resident nurse & clinic Resident nurse & clinic Unsatisfactory employment of our trainees. Unsatisfactory employment of our trainees.

How can I help? Try not to take perfect eyesight for granted, especially where other people are concerned. Above all, think twice when you come across behavior that at first may seem out of the ordinary. Try not to take perfect eyesight for granted, especially where other people are concerned. Above all, think twice when you come across behavior that at first may seem out of the ordinary.

Common reactions to avoid; At a party – “He’s just tapped cigarette ash into a bowl of peanuts – Drunk!” At a party – “He’s just tapped cigarette ash into a bowl of peanuts – Drunk!” At the library – “He’s holding that book right up to his eyes – Backward!’ At the library – “He’s holding that book right up to his eyes – Backward!’ At the supermarket – “She’s standing suspiciously close to those shelves – Shoplifting!’ At the supermarket – “She’s standing suspiciously close to those shelves – Shoplifting!’ At a bus stop – ‘He’s had to ask the number on that bus – Illiterate!’ At a bus stop – ‘He’s had to ask the number on that bus – Illiterate!’ ! In fact, all may be visually disabled. ! In fact, all may be visually disabled.

The Process of O&M Intervention No need to be referred by the Doctor to see O&M Specialist No need to be referred by the Doctor to see O&M Specialist Referrals may come from optometrist and ophthalmologist, teachers, nurses, etc. Referrals may come from optometrist and ophthalmologist, teachers, nurses, etc. Important! Clients patients should know that they are being referred and why? Important! Clients patients should know that they are being referred and why?

Assessment Vision Vision Hearing and general health Hearing and general health Lifestyle and mobility goals Lifestyle and mobility goals

How to Guide a Visually Impaired Person The following Sighted Guide skills provide a practical, comfortable and safe means of guiding a blind or visually impaired person. The following Sighted Guide skills provide a practical, comfortable and safe means of guiding a blind or visually impaired person.

Making contact and the Grip The guide verbally indicates to the blind person that he will be guiding him. The guide then offers the person his arm by touching his elbow against his nearest arm. The blind person then places his hand above the guides elbows so that his fingers are on the inside of the guides arm and the thumb on the outside. His elbow is then at a right angle. This grip positions the blind person half a pace behind you, he can then detect any changes of the guides body movements e.g. turning left or right.

. Negotiating narrow places (walking single file).. Negotiating narrow places (walking single file). This needs to be performed in crowded places, narrow walkways etc. The guide places his arm behind his back and the blind person changes his grip from just above the elbow to the wrist of the guide whilst moving to a position behind the guide. The blind person then proceeds through this narrow space until there is enough room again for two people to walk abreast. The guide then returns his arm to the normal position and this signifies to the blind person that he is to return his hand to the normal grip position. This needs to be performed in crowded places, narrow walkways etc. The guide places his arm behind his back and the blind person changes his grip from just above the elbow to the wrist of the guide whilst moving to a position behind the guide. The blind person then proceeds through this narrow space until there is enough room again for two people to walk abreast. The guide then returns his arm to the normal position and this signifies to the blind person that he is to return his hand to the normal grip position.

Changing Sides Changing Sides It may be necessary in some situations for the blind person to swop to the guide’s other side i.e. when negotiating a tricky pathway or going through a doorway. This may be done in a stationary or mobile position. The guide verbally indicates the need to change sides. If the blind person is holding the guides left arm with his right hand he will bring his left hand onto the guide’s arm, release his right hand and place it on the guide’s right arm. He will then bring his left hand over to the guide’s right arm and release his right hand, resuming the normal sighted guide grip on the other side. It may be necessary in some situations for the blind person to swop to the guide’s other side i.e. when negotiating a tricky pathway or going through a doorway. This may be done in a stationary or mobile position. The guide verbally indicates the need to change sides. If the blind person is holding the guides left arm with his right hand he will bring his left hand onto the guide’s arm, release his right hand and place it on the guide’s right arm. He will then bring his left hand over to the guide’s right arm and release his right hand, resuming the normal sighted guide grip on the other side.

Doorways The guide should go through the door first and his partner follows, closing the door behind you both. It is important that as the guide approaches the door he looks to see which side the hinge is on, left or right. If the hinge is on the left, the blind person should be on the guides left, with his left hand free and vice versa. The guide verbally indicates to the blind person which side the hinge is on by saying either door left, or door right. It may be necessary for the blind person to change sides at this point. The guide should go through the door first and his partner follows, closing the door behind you both. It is important that as the guide approaches the door he looks to see which side the hinge is on, left or right. If the hinge is on the left, the blind person should be on the guides left, with his left hand free and vice versa. The guide verbally indicates to the blind person which side the hinge is on by saying either door left, or door right. It may be necessary for the blind person to change sides at this point.

Doorways cont…… The guide then opens the door with his grip arm – the blind person can then distinguish whether the door opens inwards or outwards. As you move through the door, the guide places his grip hand on the handle. The blind person then moves his free hand down your arm, and thus makes contact with the handle and is then able to close the door behind you both. The guide then opens the door with his grip arm – the blind person can then distinguish whether the door opens inwards or outwards. As you move through the door, the guide places his grip hand on the handle. The blind person then moves his free hand down your arm, and thus makes contact with the handle and is then able to close the door behind you both.

Ascending Stairs must always be approached squarely. The guide then stops at the foot of the stairs and verbally indicates that there are steps up. The blind person then slides their foot forward until they locate the bottom stair. If there is a rail the guide should ensure that the client is on the correct side to use it and to verbally indicate that there is a rail. In some instances the guide can place the blind persons hand on the rail, by placing his guiding arm on it. Stairs must always be approached squarely. The guide then stops at the foot of the stairs and verbally indicates that there are steps up. The blind person then slides their foot forward until they locate the bottom stair. If there is a rail the guide should ensure that the client is on the correct side to use it and to verbally indicate that there is a rail. In some instances the guide can place the blind persons hand on the rail, by placing his guiding arm on it.

Ascending Cont…. The guide then steps up onto the first step and the blind person follows keeping one step behind him. You can then continue to ascend the stairs walking in rhythm until you reach the top. At the top of the stairs the guide takes an extra pace beyond the last step before stopping or pausing. This then indicates to the client that the top has been reached. The guide then steps up onto the first step and the blind person follows keeping one step behind him. You can then continue to ascend the stairs walking in rhythm until you reach the top. At the top of the stairs the guide takes an extra pace beyond the last step before stopping or pausing. This then indicates to the client that the top has been reached.

Descending The guide approaches the stairs, slowing down and then stopping at the top. The guide then tells the client that you are at the top of a flight of stairs. Use of the handrail applies as for ascending stairs. The guide then asks the blind person to gently slide their foot forward to locate the edge of the first step. The guide approaches the stairs, slowing down and then stopping at the top. The guide then tells the client that you are at the top of a flight of stairs. Use of the handrail applies as for ascending stairs. The guide then asks the blind person to gently slide their foot forward to locate the edge of the first step.

Descending Cont… The guide then waits for the client to indicate, by squeezing his guiding arm or verbally indicating, that he is ready to walk. The guide then descends the first step. Again, it is important that the blind person is one step behind the guide. At the bottom of the flight the guide takes a pace beyond the last step and then stops. The guide then waits for the client to indicate, by squeezing his guiding arm or verbally indicating, that he is ready to walk. The guide then descends the first step. Again, it is important that the blind person is one step behind the guide. At the bottom of the flight the guide takes a pace beyond the last step and then stops.

Seating (Single chairs or settees) Approach the chair centrally and verbally indicate whether the seat is facing your partner or away from him. Place your guiding hand on the back of the chair. Your partner can then slide his hand down your arm to the chair and establish its position. He can then move into it feeling the side of it with his leg and checking the seat with his hand. Approach the chair centrally and verbally indicate whether the seat is facing your partner or away from him. Place your guiding hand on the back of the chair. Your partner can then slide his hand down your arm to the chair and establish its position. He can then move into it feeling the side of it with his leg and checking the seat with his hand.

Aisle Seating Aisle Seating Maintain the normal grip position as you move down the aisle. On reaching the row of seats the guide then turns sideways and leads them into the row in a side stepping manner. Your partner may trail the back of the row of seats in front with the back of his hand (ensuring that he does not disturb the people in the row in front). The guide walks until his partner is standing in front of his seat. The blind person should then check the seat and sit down. On leaving the guide takes the lead again and a similar procedure is followed until the aisle is reached. Maintain the normal grip position as you move down the aisle. On reaching the row of seats the guide then turns sideways and leads them into the row in a side stepping manner. Your partner may trail the back of the row of seats in front with the back of his hand (ensuring that he does not disturb the people in the row in front). The guide walks until his partner is standing in front of his seat. The blind person should then check the seat and sit down. On leaving the guide takes the lead again and a similar procedure is followed until the aisle is reached.

Cars Cars When assisting a visually impaired person into a car, simply place your grip hand on the passenger door handle and indicate which way the car is facing. Your partner can then slide his grip hand down your arm and locate the handle whilst his other hand locates the roof. The passenger can then open the door for himself and get in. When assisting a visually impaired person into a car, simply place your grip hand on the passenger door handle and indicate which way the car is facing. Your partner can then slide his grip hand down your arm and locate the handle whilst his other hand locates the roof. The passenger can then open the door for himself and get in.

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