Mobility Works, Inc.
Diane DeJong, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY FOR EVERYONE WITH A DISABILITY:
TRAVEL INSTRUCTION
Orientation and Mobility for Working-Age Adults who are not blind or visually impaired:
Orientation is the process of mentally organizing the environment and determining one's location within that environment. Mobility is the act of moving through the environment in a safe, efficient, and independent manner. The orientation and mobility instructor teaches people who have an impairment to mobility to travel independently, safely, and efficiently.
The O&M instructor evaluates people's current travel-related / community based skills, discusses their goals, and helps them select a program of instruction that will allow them to reach their greatest travel / community potential, teaches people to travel by using their hearing, remaining vision, and other senses, in learning to establish and maintain orientation.
The O&M specialist who provides “travel instruction” provides these same services to persons with disabilities who are not blind or visually impaired.
WHAT IS TRAVEL INSTRUCTION?
TRAVEL INSTRUCTION is similar to traditional O&M:
Both Use many of the same skills and strategies for instruction:
o Use of public transportation
o Use of landmarks
o Pedestrian safety skills
o Decision making skills
o Application of practical life skills
o “lost” strategies
o Provides “ONE-ON-ONE” service.
o Establishes the most suitable, safe mode of transportation
o No self-travel is allowed until the route is perfected and the lesson plan is completed, demonstrated safely and successfully.
TRAVEL INSTRUCTION differs from traditional O&M:
Instruction is very similar to instruction for the visually impaired except the sight or vision factor is added. Therefore instruction may go quicker and involve fewer hours.
o Instruction occurs in “real settings”. Because of the nature of some of the disabling conditions, it is often difficult to “pretend” situations. Abstract thinking and generalizing are sometimes difficult for some students.
o Soliciting assistance strategies differ. Travel instructors try to minimize assistance seeking behavior
o STRANGER DANGER is strongly emphasized
Services provided by Mobility Works, Inc. (travel instruction PRIMARILY to achieve a vocational goal.
1. ASSESSMENTS– Community Based Assessments -- for consumers, assessing their appropriateness for independent travel and / or community-based activities specifically related to vocational functioning purposes. We assess the impact of the individual’s disability on their ability to travel at maximum independence. This assessment addresses the following specific areas of functioning, but is not limited to:
- socially acceptable behavior in the community
- reactions to sensory factors: smells, sounds, tactile, personal space
- sense of personal safety
- sense of monetary value
- sense of time
- adjustment to climactic conditions
- ability to match words and numbers
- ability to cross streets with the time allowed by the light cycle or, if there is not a light, crossing within a safe margin of time.
- ability to communicate: verbally, written
- ability to identify landmarks
- ability to pay fare
- conduct on and off the vehicle
- stranger awareness
- other safety issues, decided on an individual basis
Persons with the following disabling conditions have received assessments and instruction in the past:
· Severe mental illness conditions (including agoraphobia – fear of “going out”), severe anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, depression, etc.
· Significant cognitive disabilities
· Aspberger’s/Autism
· Traumatic Brain Injury
· Traumatic physical disabilities
· Hearing Impairment
· Visual Impairments
· Seizure Disorders
· Multiply handicapping conditions.
The outcome of this assessment will determine the instructional sequence established for that consumer.
2. INSTRUCTION: individuals with multiple physical, emotional, mental or cognitive disabilities to travel safely and independently as pedestrians, users of paratransportation, public transportation, or at whatever level of travel the community based assessment warrants. We also provide other interventions determined appropriate in support of IPE goals.
- To allow maximum vocational functioning:
· Instruction is done in such a way to help the consumer overcome issues that arise when traveling alone. This instruction is more and more used to first help alleviate emotional issues, anxiety, fear, and general angst that traveling alone causes. In this region (a Metropolitan area surrounded by suburbs) some consumers with disabilities have very little experience traveling alone and there seems to be tremendous fear associated with traveling alone (not in a private car). The individualized service that is provided is first of all, done to alleviate fear and anxiety. [one example is the woman with agoraphobia, who after receiving services from this orientation and mobility instructor over the course of many months, was able to complete college and pursue a career in the health field].
· Many individuals who are diagnosed with Autism have been taught to travel safely on the transit system in Rochester with great success and are successfully employed.
· Instruction is provided to persons with multiple disabilities, i.e.: TBI along with physical disabilities, cognitive handicaps along with mental health issues. These are time-intensive sessions that require the services of a professional.
· Instruction is done one-on-one, toward the goal of independent travel. This is for the safety of the consumer and to allow the most intensive instruction. This is where “bus training” may be incorporated, depending on the needs and abilities / disabilities of the consumer.
3. Administers evaluations to assess paratransit eligibility. One area of specialized assessment is determining a consumer’s eligibility to utilize the area “paratransit system”. If a person is not able to use the regular bus, they are eligible for the curb-to-curb service. This determination is made through an application process. Mobility Works, Inc. is able to provide a complete assessment to determine eligibility, and will then complete the paperwork required for that process, and follow the process along to completion.
ADMINISTRATION
MOBILITY WORKS, INC.’s activity is the responsibility of the insured, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (Diane DeJong, MA, Western Michigan University).
Please contact me at:
Mobility Works, Inc.
302 Dickinson Road
Webster, NY 14580
585-314-7248