About the Programme
Living isn’t easy
with eyes closed
At Guide Dogs Association of The Blind, we believe that people with vision loss are fully capable of living active and fulfilling lives. Our mission is thus to help blind and visually-impaired people to achieve their fullest potential within society. To support them, the Orientation & Mobility training we offer seeks to build their confidence to travel independently and safely.
The O&M training teaches blind and visually-impaired people to know where they are, where they want to go (orientation) and how to get there safely by themselves (mobility). We provide this training to different levels of visual impairment and age groups.
The Process
The initial assessment
Consisting of an interview as well as an assessment of the patient’s medical history and visual acuity, GDAB staff evaluate how mobile and independent the person already is. It will also involve sessions in which the staff assess how well the person functions in his/her environment. The O&M Instructor will then customise a training programme, taking into account the beneficiaries’ schedule, goals and routes they frequently travel.
Possible Interview Questions
Training and Lessons
O&M training teaches blind and visually impaired people to know where they are, where they want to go (orientation) and how to get there safely by themselves (mobility).
We provide this training to people of different levels of visual impairment and age groups. The O&M training is conducted by our qualified O&M instructors.
Beneficiaries who have undergone O&M training and attained their training goals often return with more challenging requests as they now possess greater confidence built from the previous goals achieved. In addition, they would be able to travel on more routes safely on their own and have increased independence.
Here’s what O&M trainees learn
Understanding of the environment
through the use of remaining vision and other sense such as smell, touch and hearing
Using the public transport
by understanding the bus/train orientation and how to ask for assistance
Mental Mapping
to identify travel paths and remember landmark
Safety in road crossing
through analysing and identifying the different types of crossing and traffic patterns
Using a mobility cane
to detect obstacles and learn body protection techniques for objects that are undetectable by the cane
Applying for O&M
If you wish to find out more, please contact us.
If you or a someone you know are interested in O&M, download this application form and send it to us at admin@guidedogs.org.sg or mail it to 18 Sin Ming Lane Midview City, #08-37 Singapore 573960