Month: November 2007

 

Lyra had her first Orientation and Mobility assessment on October 16th. She was 17 months old. I had been and still am doing a lot of research on Orientation and Mobility, and the benefits of the services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Orientation and mobility(O&M) is 3 things: knowing where you are, knowing where you want to go, and knowing how to get there.

Do kids with albinism need these services? Maybe…maybe not. It depends on a lot of things. It can’t be determined based on visual acuity alone. It depends on how they are using the vision they have, how they are moving in their environment, and if they are doing this safely and independently. It’s important to know that many children with low vision will figure out how to move around safely and independently in familiar places like home or daycare, without difficulty. However, behavior in unfamiliar environments can be surprisingly unpredictable. Regardless of your child’s visual acuity, it is very important that your child receive a thorough assessment by a certified orientation and mobility specialist. If a child is moving around in his/her environment, whether that’s rolling, scooting, crawling, pulling up, or walking, he or she could potentially benefit from O&M services. Continue reading “Orientation and Mobility Assessment”