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Various O&M skills are demonstrated and organized by grade level.

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Parent Mobility - orientation and mobility resources for families

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orientation and mobility resources for families

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"Veronica With Four Eyes is a free resource created by Veronica Lewis for low vision/visual impairment and assistive technology, dedicated to sharing practical and positive blog posts about how to live with vision loss, tips for transition and going to college with a disability, and how to use assistive technology for almost anything and everything."

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Welcome to Veronica With Four Eyes, a blog about low vision, vision impairments, assistive technology, and education. Written by Veronica Lewis

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"HEY! I'm Molly, a typical sushi and makeup loving millennial girl who just so happens to be blind! I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at just 4 years old and began public speaking at age 5. Even though I can’t see, I know that there are bright spots in everything we face. Let’s find them together!"

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Molly Burke: Motivational Speaker & YouTuber

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Molly Burke: Motivational Speaker & YouTuber

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Molly Burke is a star Motivational Speaker, YouTuber, and Spokesperson. She also happens to be blind.

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"The Blind Life is a representation of what is going on in my life and what I enjoy, all from the visually impaired perspective.  I'm a big fan of mobile technology and Low vision accessibility, but I also can easily laugh at myself.  I enjoy making videos to share tips and tricks of navigating life with low vision.  If you have any suggestions for future videos, just ask!"

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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An O&M Specialist, Mike Mulligan, created a website that incorporates blog posts and YouTube videos demonstrating O&M Skills.

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In today's tip of the day, I want to share with you a quick and easy tip to help differentiate between different doors. This tip may be helpful for someone who is struggling with locating a certain door or is having trouble confirming that the door they are at is the right one. I have Continue reading "Tip of the Day #9 - Tactile Doorknobs"

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Welcome to Blind on the Move On this website you will find Orientation & Mobility resources, product reviews, and tutorials. Newest Video Below https://youtu.be/PgMxw_stU0s YouTube Channel WHITE CAN VIDEO TUTORIALS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! Can be found in the tutorials tab HERE Latest from the Blog PLEASE SUBSCRIBE IF YOU WANT EMAIL ALERTS WHEN NEW BLOG...

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Planes, Trains, and Canes is a channel made by a blind woman who travels and documents her experiences.  Some of the music is loud on some of the videos so you may have a harder time hearing what the speaker is saying, but they do try to have descriptive audio of what is going on. They are highlighting real life scenarios of what blind people have to deal with while traveling and how to advocate for yourself.

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Hello! My name is Mona Minkara. I'm a blind scientist and professor of bioengineering. When I'm not teaching, I'm adventuring. This channel is called "Planes...

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"blind film critic" "tommy edison" "ben churchill" funny comedy humor blind blindness disability accessibility "blind comedy" "blind humor" "blind youtuber" "visually impaired"

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Tommy Edison, who has been blind since birth (due to an underdeveloped optic nerve), uses humor to answer the most popular questions about living without sight and faces challenges which test his other senses. Produced, directed, and edited by Ben Churchill. (http://benchurchill.com) Tommy is available to appear or speak at events.

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A compilation of apps related to O&M provided by Paths To Literacy.

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There are many apps (applications) available to support the development of Orientation and Mobility skills for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired, as well as those who are deafblind. I compiled a list of some of my favorites in various categories. Please let us know if you try any of these or have others to add to the list!

Pocket Map lets you create folders called "pockets", so you can easily drag and drop your bookmarks into categories.

With this software you can turn your photos into a new style--the old and nostalgic style.

Glow Hockey

Game: Using glow lights to highlight the hockey game, easy to play, hard to master.

Please note that you may need to check whether the app has been updated or whether it only works with certain operating systems. Please let us know if you have any information to share about any of the apps on this page! You can email us or leave a comment below.

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There are many apps (applications) available to support the development of Orientation and Mobility skills for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired, as well as those who are deafblind. I compiled a list of some of my favorites in various categories.

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Demonstration of the SAS Gloss App

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A compilation of how to incorporate O&M skills with items you may already have at home to play games, and resources to pre-made games that can be used for O&M Skills.

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Below is a list of games & activities to enhance the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) experience for children. Some games you may have in your closet while other games may be created easily through items found at American Printing House for the Blind ( www.aph.org) or purchased. Most all of the tools necessary to create the games or activities are available through Quota Funds.

American Printing House Sound Balls: These balls make a constant beeping or hip-hop sound. Great for location identification.

Explore: When a child is a little resistant to using a cane - Explore and/or find ways to use the cane as a tool.

Walk Backwards with the Cane: Sometimes just getting out and letting the child be the explorer and determine where to go is exactly what the child needs.

Explore Signs when Possible: Children need the opportunity to explore actual street and/or traffic signs. Often times, they have no clue as to their size, shape or color. Small models don't do the sizes justice. This is a great activity for deafblind students, as well.

Follow the Path: This is a fun creative activity children enjoy. One they can set up themselves, if they wish. It fine tunes one's ability to use the pencil grip and enhances tactual awareness. This is a great activity for deafblind students, as well.

Go Fishing: This activity is great for blind and deafblind students to fine tune their tactual awareness skills.

Go to Places of Interest: O&M is more fun if the child makes the decision as to where he/she would like to go. Perhaps give the child two or three choices (that focus on your O&M goals for the lesson) but the child has the final say.

Hide And Seek Snoozy: A great activity for seeking and working on sound cues.

Hide And Seek with Sleepshades: A super activity for a group of individuals.

IXL Revolution TM Sports Ball: Another fun activity that focuses on developing audio skills.

Learn to Tie, Buckle, Velcro: A skill necessary for everyone.

Left And Right: A skill necessary for O&M enhancement.

Owin M. Chair: To encourage cane use: A fun activity all students tend to enjoy.

O&M Scavenger Hunt: This can be an on-going activity for those rainy days.

Parents get involved, too!: Remember, parents are a child's first O&M teacher, so it is important for parents to have a full grasp on how they can assist their child.

A more advanced cardinal direction game.

Red Light-Green Light with Sleepshades: Remember this game? How about using auditory tools to play?

Rhyme And Song: Teachers have known for years how singing songs or learning rhymes can help students learn. Here are a couple of simple activities.

Rib-It-Balls: This large ball is great for learning right and left as children kick it around.

Simon Says Cardinal Direction Game: A very basic cardinal direction game. Great for preschoolers.

Swinging the Cane Wide Enough: Swinging the cane wide enough (yet, not too wide) is a skill that takes practice.

Tactual Awareness: Sometimes getting a child to walk can be a struggle. Here is a fun way to introduce tactual awareness on one's toes and/or bottom of the feet.

The Cardinal Game: Items through APH are used to create this game. This game focuses on cardinal directions.

The "No Peeking" Game: This is an activity to introduce sleep-shades to children with some remaining vision. By wearing sleep-shades during activities, an individual with limited vision may be able to have a more intense learning experience.

Tic-Tac-Toe Cardinal Direction Game: Taking a basic tic-tac-toe game and incorporating an O&M twist.

Walk Backwards with the Cane: Some people think walking backwards with the cane is very difficult. It truly isn't. But, practice makes perfect!!

50/50 O&M Game: This game is great to generate discussion & enhance O&M knowledge.

THE CARDINAL GAME *
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

A game for two or four players that focuses on cardinal directions.

Object of the game: Be the first player to move all game pieces across the board (north, south, east, or west) in a straight line to its final destination.

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) materials needed

100's Board kit (APH)

One Braille or talking dice (APH)

Directions for constructing the game board and pieces:
1. Place Velcro as indicated with a V on the 100's board.

2. Place sticky foam or textured contact paper in the squares marked with an X below. These spaces will not be used.

3. Braille (or large print) the cardinal directions as indicated below (if desired.)

4. Create four sets of playing pieces by attaching Velcro on one side each of the six squares, six circles, six stars, and six triangles found in the APH 100's pack. (Other objects may be used for playing pieces as long as each set contains six identical items and all are easily distinguished by touch such shampoo caps, milk tops, or old game pieces from four different games.)
How to play the game:
1. Set up the game for four players as shown in the diagram below (S = squares, C= Circles, ST= Stars and T=Triangles). Note: It doesn't matter which shapes are placed in which cardinal location.

NOTE: If there are only two players, players must be positioned across the board from each other and may select their own shape.

2. Each person rolls the die to determine who starts first. The person who rolls the lowest number goes first and game proceeds clockwise.

3. A player in the north position must travel to the south position and vice versa. A player in the east position must travel to the west position and vice versa. Note: Throughout the game, on occasion review the direction each player is traveling-either north, south, east, or west.

4. If a player lands on an occupied square, that opponent's game piece must be returned to his/her start position, and the current player occupies that square.

5. The exact number must be rolled on the die to occupy the final destination of the player. If a number is rolled that is too high, the player must bounce backwards on the board in the opposite direction. For example, if the player is moving west and is three squares from its final destination and rolls a five, that player must go forward the three squares and then back east two squares. The player continues to do this until the correct number is rolled that allows the player to land in the final destination with the exact number rolled on the die. Note: Discuss the change in cardinal direction as this occurs. Ask players what direction other individuals are traveling.

6. The player must travel only north and south or only east and west. Traveling at an angle or sideways is not permitted. See number 3 above.

How to determine the winner of the Cardinal Game:

The first player who is able to get all game pieces to the final destination of the board (opposite to their starting position) is the winner.

* The Cardinal Game is a variation of the "Start Again" game. One can use the Start Again board for The Cardinal Game but The Cardinal Game is slightly larger and offers more pieces and spaces.

TIC-TAC-TOE CARDINAL DIRECTION GAME
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

A game for two players that focuses on cardinal directions.
Object of the game:
Be the first player create three 'X's or 'O's in a row.

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) materials needed: Invisiboard with Tic-Tac-Toe Accessory Kit

Play Tic-Tac-Toe as usual with the following new rules:
a) As a playing piece in placed on the board, the location of the piece needs to be announced by the player. If the location is not announced correctly, the player must remove the playing piece.
b) In order to win, the individual claiming his/her victory must correctly call off the proper locations of all the playing pieces confirming the win.
c) Proper locations of playing pieces are as follows:

Created by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

A game for two players that focuses on cardinal directions.
Object of the game:
Be the first player to create a path across the board (north, south, east, or west) to its final destination at the opposite side of the board.

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) materials needed: 100's Board kit (APH)

Directions for constructing the game board and pieces:

1. Place Velcro as indicated with a V on the 100's board. (Note: Similar to a checker board.)

2. Stick Velcro on the 25 red circles and 25 blue squares. NOTE: Do not place Velcro on the rest of the circles or squares.

3. Velcro the red circles and blue squares on the board as indicated below. C = circles, S = squares. These playing pieces are stationary and may not be moved throughout the game. They are considered locked.
How to play the game:
1. Players sit on connecting sides. They do not sit across from each other. The player with the circles, sit on the side with the row of circles closest to him/her. The player with the squares, sit on the side with the row of squares in front of him or her.

2. Youngest player places his/her shape in a blank square anywhere on the board.

3. Second player places his/her shape in a blank square anywhere on the board. NOTE: Only one playing piece is permitted in each blank square.

4. Continue until a long path of circles or squares has developed from one end of the board to the opposite end. This path may or may not go in a straight line across the board. See example below:
How to determine the winner of Pathways:
The first player who is able to create a path from one end of the board to the other may be the winner if he/she is able to successfully state the directions the path made. Using the example above-The player at the bottom of the board used square playing pieces. This player placed his/her squares as indicated with a "S*" in the example above. In order to win, this player would state that his/her path went north, east, north, west, north, west and then north again. NOTE: Direction of travel depends on actual cardinal direction of location where game is played. Simply tip the board over to remove the playing pieces to start a new game.
Variations of the game:
a) Lock: One player may place a playing piece on top of the opponent's playing piece. The opponent may leave it alone thus, letting the other player own the square, or he/she may place his/her playing piece on top and regain control of the square. No more than three playing pieces can be in any blank square. The third piece locks the square and the top playing piece owns the square. There may be three circles, three stars, or any combination in one square.

b) Use different playing pieces offered through the Hundred's Board such as yellow stars or green triangles or place tactual stickers to help distinguish the playing pieces.

c) The 100s Board comes with 100 playing pieces of each shape. When the board is made, 25 of the playing pieces of one shape are used on the board and are considered locked. That leaves 75 extra shapes to use as playing pieces per player. After each game, the winner collects all the playing pieces used in the game keeping the opponent's pieces. Continue playing until the opponent is out of playing pieces or determine a winner by counting who has more of their opponent's playing pieces.

SIMON SAYS CARDINAL DIRECTION GAME
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

Object of the game: Be the player who is able to follow the directions given by Simon.

Number of players: Three or more.

Materials needed: Braille compass.
How to play the game:
Become familiar with the room in which the game will be played. Determine which walls are the north, south, east, and west. Determine which corners are the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest. Player one acts out as Simon and uses the following types of instructions to the other players who perform the instructions:

Simon says, "Hop to the north wall."
Simon says, "Put your right foot in the southwest corner of the room."
Simon says, "Answer this question: The window is on the ______ wall."
Simon says, "Place your back to the east."
Simon says, "Point to the west."
Skip to the northeast corner.
Simon says, "Put your right foot next to the north wall."
Simon says, "Walk sideways to the south wall."
Simon says, "Hop to the east wall."
Walk backwards to the west wall.
Simon says, "Skip to the northeast corner."
Simon says, "Put your back to the east wall."
Simon says, "Go to the window on the west wall."
Simon says, "Go to the door on the north wall."
Hop on one foot to the south wall.

The player who does not do what Simon says is considered out and is removed from the game. The player who does the activity that is not preceded by Simon says is out also.

Players take turns playing Simon.
Variations of the game:
a) Expand the area of the game by having Simon give instructions to other rooms in the house or buildings the players must go to.

b) Perform the game while wearing sleep-shades to truly practice good O&M skills.

How to determine the winner of Simon Says Cardinal Direction Game:

The player who is able to successfully perform all the instructions correctly without getting out.
GO FISHING
Created by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

Object of the game:

Use tactual methods to collect tactual fish (round rings) by using the long, white cane.

Number of players:

One or more.

Materials needed:

Twister Hopscotch game by Milton Bradley.

Before the game:

Lay one fish (ring from Twister Hopscotch) on the floor and practice locating it with the long, white cane. Much like reeling in a fish, the player places the tip of the cane in the center of the fish and pulls the fish towards himself or herself to retrieve the fish.

How to play the game:

One player (or teacher, friend, or parent) tosses all the fish on the floor (hallways work best) in no general pattern. Other players use the long, white cane to locate all the fish.
Variations of the game:
a) Use a timer to determine who can find the fish in the shortest amount of time.

b) Perform the game while wearing sleep-shades for individuals with some remaining vision.

c) When playing in a hallway, try to find all the fish with one walk to and from the end of the hallway.

d) Two players stand at opposite ends of the hallway and walk towards each other collecting as many fish as possible. The one who collects the most fish wins.

e) Toss the fish in a large room. All players collect as many fish as possible in a five minute period.

f) All fish found by the foot must be tossed back.

How to determine the winner of the Go Fishing game: Winners can be determined in a variety of ways: Who found the most fish in the least amount of time; who was successful in finding all the fish with one trip to and from the end of the hallway; or no winner is necessary.
FOLLOW THE PATH
Created by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI
Object of the game:
Using the long, white cane, players use tactual methods to follow a path made of round rings.
Number of players:
One or more Materials needed: Twister Hopscotch game by Milton Bradley.

Before the game:

Player one creates a path with curves and turns using the connectors in Twister Hopscotch.

How to play the game: Player two follows the path by using the long, white cane. The player needs to put a foot in each ring.
Variations of the game:
a) After player two walks to and fro the end of the path, turn the path over and repeat.

b) Player two then creates a path for the next player. How to determine the winner of the
Follow the Path game:
The player who is able to follow the path without tipping over or stepping outside the path is the winner.

SCAVENGER HUNT
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI
Object of the game:
Successfully locate information presented on a list. NOTE: Players need to be able to understand and use a Braille compass.

Number of players: Two or more.

Materials needed:

Items to be found, a list of those items to be found, a few extra items not on the list and a Braille compass.
Before the game:
Player one determines the items needed to be found throughout the house or playing area making sure to place extra items in order to enhance the game and challenge the players. Player one creates and provides the list (Braille, large print, or cassette recoding) of where to find the needed items. Examples are as follows:

a) What is the item located on the west windowsill in the living room?

b) What is the item located on the north counter in the kitchen?

c) What is the item hanging on the inside of the east closet in the basement?

d) What is the word (Braille, large print, or cassette recording) located on the picture farthest east on the bookshelf on the south wall of the office?

e) What is the word (Braille, large print, or cassette recording) located on the northeast corner of the bathroom mirror? (Be sure to place other words in different corners to enhance the game and challenge the players.)

f) Bring back one item located in the southwest corner of the back yard.

g) What is on or near the south wall of the living room? How to play the game: Each player collects the answers to the list.
Variations of the game:
a) Complete the game while wearing sleep-shades.

b) Time the game. The one who can collect the most items in the shortest amount wins.

How to determine the winner of Scavenger Hunt: The person who collects the most correct answers in the shortest amount of time, or the person who Brailles their answers with the least amount of Braille errors, or a combination of the two-a point for every collected item and a point for every correct Braille answer.
HIDE AND SEEK O&M STYLE
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

Object of the game:

Quietly hide while another player counts to 50. After 50 has been reached, stay hidden until another count reaches 20 and then return to home base safely.

Number of players:

Three or more (The more the merrier!) Before the game: Determine where home base is located. Determine a waiting area slightly away from home base. Select a person to be it and another person to be the assistant.
How to play the game:
a) Everyone wears sleep-shades (including sighted players) and everyone uses a long, white cane.

b) Determine who is it.

c) The person who is it counts to 50 while others hide. (One can be considered hidden even if standing out in the open quietly since everyone is wearing sleep-shades.)

d) The assistant then counts to 20 while the person who is it begins searching for the hidden individuals.

e) Once the assistant finishes counting to 20, the assistant then claps or makes another auditory sound to allow players to know where home base is located. f) As players safely return to home base, they announce their names and move over to a waiting area out of the way where they remain quietly until the end of the game.
Variation of the game:
If the game is played in the school cafeteria, each game can have some variations such as only stay on the east side of the room or all players must sit on a chair or must be under a table, et cetera.
How to determine the winner of Hide and Seek:
The players who return to home base without being touched by the person who is it are determined winners. The next person considered to be it is selected by the winners. After the person is it, he or she becomes the assistant for the next game.

50-50 O&M GAME
Created by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

Object of the game: The player must move from one end of the board to the other by correctly answering O&M true/false questions and successfully selecting the proper right/left card from the pile. The player has a 50-50 chance on getting the true/false question correct and a 50-50 chance on getting the desired right or left turn.
Number of players:
Two or more.

Rolling Right Along Construction Kit (American Printing House for the Blind)
True/False Questions (found in Appendix A)
Right/Left Cards (8 Right, 8 Left)
Puff paint
Directions for setting up board:
1) With the Rolling Right Along Construction Kit, create a one-way road using Velcro. The road needs to have right or left turns but not both. Be creative. Here are a couple of examples.

Example (Use strips to create the road - not several squares.)

2) Use puff paint to put some arrows to show direction of travel.

3) Use puff paint to create a stop line across the Velcro just before each turn.

4) Create each ball tactually different. (Some examples: Put puff paint dots on one of the balls; put puff paint lines on another ball; leave one as is.)

5) Mix true/false questions.

6) Mix right/left cards.

1) Line up each player's balls next to START just before the first turn.
2) Select the youngest player to go first.
3) Player one selects a true/false question, reads and answers it aloud (Allow time for discussion.)
4) If the answer is not correct, the player may not move forward. Discuss the correct answer.
5) If the answer is correct, the player then selects a right/left card. If the player needs to turn right and receives a right card, the student may move in that direction to the next stop line. If the player receives a left card but needs to turn right, the player may not move.
6) Continue to the next player.
7) Continue until the end of allotted time or someone reaches the end of the board.
8) The person who reaches the end of the Velcro road first is the winner or when time is up, the person who is farthest on the Velcro road is the winner.

Suggested true/false questions can be found at QUESTIONS for 50/50 O&M or you can make your own questions.

Note: While playing this game, students may invent true/false O&M questions.

RED LIGHT - GREEN LIGHT
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

Object of the game:

Successfully walk or run forward reaching the caller first.
Number of players:
Three or more.

Materials needed:

Push toys that make sounds, sleep-shades.

How to play the game:

Player One becomes the caller. The caller stands in front of all the other players who are lined up facing the caller. Each of the other players has a push toy in front of them. The distance between the caller and the other players needs to be more than thirty feet.

a) The caller yells out "Green light"
b) Other players move forward with their push toys on the ground making noise to try to get as close to the caller as possible.
c) The caller turns around and yells out "Red light" whenever he/she pleases.
d) Other players must STOP and be as still and quiet as possible.
e) The caller then listens and if he/she hears anything, he/she identifies the person/sound and that person much return back to where they stood at the beginning of the game.
f) Repeat as often as necessary until one of the other players reaches the caller.

Variations of the game: None

How to determine the winner of Red Light - Green Light:

The player who reaches the caller first wins the game and becomes the caller.
HIDE AND SEEK SNOOZY
Play Hide and Seek as typically played.
Squeeze Snoozy's hand and hide it. Once hidden, the plush toy gives audible clues to its location. Once found, it praises the finder and asks them to play again!

Variations of the game:

Use beeping Easter eggs ( www.maxiaids.com), Hide 'Em & Find 'Em eggs,
EXPLORE SIGNS WHEN POSSIBLE
Often times, signs are discussed but never touched.

American Printing House Sound Balls
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI
How to play:
1) Participants are divided into two groups.

2) One group, or individual, stands on one side of the room or large outdoor area and the other group, or individual, stands on the other side of the room or large outdoor area.

3) Everyone is quiet.

4) One person rolls the ball from one side to the other making sure the ball is turned on.

5) The other side listens for the ball and travels using their long, white cane in the direction of the ball to catch it or pick it up if it stops rolling. This individual must first touch the ball with their cane before picking it up and rolling it back.

6) Repeat.
American Printing House IXL REVOLUTION TM SPORT BALL
The 5" diameter ball contains an oversized ball bearing that continues to make noise for approximately 20 seconds after the Sport Ball stops rolling, making it an ideal sound source for practicing sound localization skills. This ball is best in smaller spaces. Available through American Printing House for the Blind.
How to play the game:
1) Everyone is quiet.

2) The ball is tossed or rolled.

3) The student listens to where it stops then locates the ball.

4) Repeat.
LEFT AND RIGHT
Knowing left and right is vitally important for developing O&M skills.
American Printing House RIB-IT-BALLS
Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

With the small Rib-it-Ball, the child stands at one end of a long hallway or gym. Walk the length of the hallway kicking the ball with only the right foot. Repeat with kicking the ball with only the left foot and then alternate kicking the ball with the right and left foot.

Kick the ball back and forth; sometimes using the left foot and sometimes using the right foot.

Available through American Printing House for the Blind.

SWINGING THE CANE WIDE ENOUGH

Adapted by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

To help swing the cane as wide as the shoulders, place a runner or strip of cardboard on a hard surface. Tap the cane from the left to the right and listen to the metal tip as it hits the hard surface. If the metal sound is soft, then the cane is not swinging out far enough.

To help swing the cane wide, stand in the doorway and arc the cane to the right and left making sure to tap the inside of the door frame.
MAKE UP A RHYME OR SING A SONG
"LEFT AND RIGHT, LEFT AND RIGHT
SWING YOUR CANE FROM SIDE TO SIDE
LEFT AND RIGHT, LEFT AND RIGHT
SWING YOUR CANE FROM SIDE TO SIDE"
(By: Merry-Noel Chamberlain)

"LEFT. RIGHT.
LEFT. RIGHT.
LET'S GO MARCHING.
TAP JUST AS WIDE
FROM SIDE TO SIDE,
LEFT. RIGHT.
LEFT. RIGHT."
(The Night Search,
By: Kate Chamberlin)
EXPLORE
Use ColorTest II to explore the house, classroom, et cetera.

Available through American Printing House for the Blind.

ColorTest II is about the size of a television remote control and it can sense over 1,000 shades of color.
A LITTLE RESISTANCE OF USING THE CANE
Allow for exploration of the cane....using the cane as a tool. Perhaps locate items under the couch or bed by using the long, white cane. Or simply use the cane to remove snow from the bushes!

TACTUAL AWARENESS

Walk barefoot on packing bubbles, packing peanuts, grass, carpet squares, et cetera.

THE "NO PEEKING" GAME

Sleep-shades offer students the opportunity to focus on their other senses.

Decorate a pair with tactual stickers or puff paint or purchase some with fun sayings such as "Do not disturb" or "I'd rather be shopping."

LEARN TO TIE, BUCKLE, VELCRO

If at all possible, ask an individual who is blind to teach your child how to tie shoes. Finding a role model is the best!

GO TO PLACES OF INTEREST

She wanted an apple pie.

She had to get it independently.

She did!

PLACE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND THEY WILL REACH THEM.

OWIN M. CHAIR: To encourage cane use

Designed by Merry-Noel Chamberlain, MA, NOMCT, TVI

1) Get a chair and place the following poem (in print and Braille) on the chair:

"This chair belongs to Owin M.

He left it here for a friend.

So please don't take this chair away,

for he'll come back another day

and move it to a brand new spot.

(He likes to do that quite a lot!)

But your long, white cane can show you how

to find the chair that's here right now."

2) From time to time move the chair to various places. Everyone enjoys discovering the chair in various locations and it promotes developing good O&M skills, too.
Walk Backwards with the Cane
It is very important to always have the cane between the body and the direction the body is traveling. Walking backwards can be tricky but with practice, one is able to be very skilled at it. Once a person realizes they can walk backwards - trusting their cane - they will often begin to be a more confident traveler when walking forward. The steps for walking backwards is as follows:

a) Hold the handle of the cane with your dominate hand as if the cane is a walking stick.

b) Place the tip of the cane behind you.

c) Keep your arm down the side of your body.

d) Arc the cane as wide as your shoulders.

e) Alternate the tip of the cane with the foot stepping backwards - if the tip of the cane is on your left side then your right foot is stepping backwards. If the tip of the cane is on your right side then your left foot is stepping backwards. Thus, the cane is clearing the way of the step traveled.

Activities for walking backwards: Play Red Light Green Light or Mother May I?
Parents get involved, too!
Parents who get involved by learning hands-on how to use the long white cane may become role models for their young child. Parents can use a 'teaching cane' for this purpose. (A teaching cane is a cane that is fitted for the adult. It needs to be as tall as one's nose.) With the teaching cane, the parent can use the cane to demonstrate the proper way to tap and hold the cane for travel. Often times, children want to be like their parents and if their parents are not using a long white cane than why should they? (For assistance in learning the proper techniques for cane travel, find an NOMC near you by going to http://www.nbpcb.org/pages/nomc_lookup.php, contact the National Federation of the Blind at http://www.nfb.org/nfb/default.asp and/or attend the Cane Walk held at NFB conventions.)

For parents of older children who are cane users: The child becomes the teacher. Parents who show an interest in how to use the long white cane by learning from their child, shows their child that the cane is an important and valuable tool just like a hammer is to a carpenter or a spoon is to a cook. The child actually becomes a better traveler because he/she reviews and enhances his/her own skills each time a lesson is provided.

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Games that Enhance the O&M Experience for Children

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Below is a list of games & activities to enhance the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) experience for children. Some games you may have in your closet while other games may be created easily through items found at American Printing House for the Blind ( www.aph.org) or purchased.

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Audio based exercise program

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Accessible Fitness, more choices for more people

Fitness has always been a concern with regard to both mental and physical health regardless of age, gender, or any other variables that make each one of us unique. And for those in the blind community, fitness is every bit as much-if not more-important.

Exercise for the visually impaired is something that should be incorporated into a weekly, if not daily, routine for a variety of reasons that are both similar and different from people within the sighted community. For those with total loss of sight as well as for those who are low sighted, a lack of regular exercise can bring on a host of other issues, including weight gain, sluggishness, and perhaps worst of all for many, insomnia or a circadian rhythm that has been thrown completely off track.

A quality workout done at the right time of day and at the right pace to meet your unique physical and mental needs is just what the doctor may have forgotten to order. For many blind people, fitness has been a challenge: without someone to guide you and without the ability to drive yourself to the gym, it becomes obvious why so many visually impaired individuals give up-but with the BlindAlive line of Fitness Workouts for blind people, you'll never have to depend on anyone else again.

Yoga and Strength Training with wieghts for blind people along with a variety of other cardiovascular exercises help our bodies stay toned, help us gain muscle mass and lose weight, but most of all, can help lead a blind person away from a sense of helplessness.

Are you ready to sweat? Come get healthy and leave all your notions of not being able to get fit due to your visual impairment behind with BlindAlive!

You just discovered the home of a complete set of the Eyes-Free Fitness® audio exercise programs. All programs are completely free for your downloading pleasure -- no strings attached. These programs allow you to stretch, strengthen, condition, and tone your body, all without the benefit of eyesight. All of these programs are thoroughly described with extra supplementary audio and text materials, should they be needed.

Mel Scott, who is blind, brought together a team of fitness instructors, musicians, and audio editors in order to provide a variety of exercise programs for people who need or prefer non-visual cues while exercising. Many, many people with or without sight have enjoyed and benefited from these audio only workouts. Now they are all free for you to download and share.

These are MP3 files which can be downloaded and played from your computer or phone. The workouts and supplemental materials are meant to remain free and are not to be altered or sold by you or any company.

Please read the medical disclaimer below before performing any of these exercise programs. You and only you will be responsible for any injury that might possibly be attributed to any of these programs.

This, and any related sites provides wellness management in an informational and educational manner only, with information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you, the reader. The contents of this site are intended to assist you and other readers in your personal wellness efforts. Consult your physician regarding the applicability of any information provided in our websites to you.

Nothing in this site or related downloads should be construed as personal advice or diagnosis, and must not be used in this manner. The information provided about conditions is general in nature. This information does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side-effects, or interactions of medicines, or medical procedures. The information in this site should not be considered as complete and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions, or their treatment.

You should consult with your physician before beginning any exercise or health care program. Under no circumstances should this site substitute for a call or visit to a competent health-care professional. You should consult a health care professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this site or before drawing inferences from it.

Any decision regarding treatment and medication for your condition should be made with the advice and consultation of a qualified health care professional. If you have, or suspect you have, a health-care problem, then you should immediately contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.

Please note that technical support is no longer available through this website. If further support is needed, you may contact Lisa Salinger for affordable technical training options.

There is no payment required for these programs. However, donations are greatly appreciated to help with ongoing costs in providing these accessible workouts. Click Here to Donate.

To support this offering of audio meditations and exercise programs, click the button below. All donations are appreciated and are not tax deductible.

Mel may be contacted through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and e-mail at mel@blindalive.com﻿

COPYRIGHT © BlindAlive All Rights Reserved. Eyes-Free Fitness is a registered trademark of BlindAlive

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BlindAlive.com and Eyes Free Fitness programs for the blind

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Accessible Fitness, more choices for more people Fitness has always been a concern with regard to both mental and physical health regardless of age, gender, or any other variables that make each one of us unique. And for those in the blind community, fitness is every bit as much-if not more-important.

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Video demonstrations of various living skills activities.

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Enjoy these tips and ideas of activities that you can work on at home during this break from school. Send emails or comment other videos you would like made ...

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AC Transit | Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District

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AC Transit Service Updates Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) AC Transit is committed to serve riders who rely on public transit to ...

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Just select your station on the Station List page

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Pick up different tactile materials on your walk and make it a book

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Materials:

cardboard

hot glue

items from the environment (tree bark, small stones, leaves, pieces of fence, etc.)

binding for book

CAUTION: If gluing the chicken wire down, first flatten it so it doesn't curve during the gluing process. Use scissors to hold it down and to avoid burning the fingers.

Procedure:

1. Explore the environment while walking outside.

2. Name items that are encountered (tree bark, leaves on bush, grass, rocks, fence, etc.)

3. Collect samples of these items with the students.

4. Glue the samples onto "travel cards".

5. Create a book using the same objects or partial objects.

*** Be aware of glare with any lamination or plastic covers!

Variations:

Add braille and/or large print to the pages.

Common Core and Braille Standards

Writing:

W.K.2 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

W.K.3 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.

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cardboard hot glue items from the environment (tree bark, small stones, leaves, pieces of fence, etc.) binding for book CAUTION: If gluing the chicken wire down, first flatten it so it doesn't curve during the gluing process. Use scissors to hold it down and to avoid burning the fingers.

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Make a book about your cane using a brailler, computer, and/or tablet.

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Information on the hotline made available to students with visual impairments.

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In response to the wave of K-12 school closures across the United States due to COVID-19, a few concerned teachers of the blind and advocates got together to organize a free, homework help hotline for blind/visually impaired students. Check out the details below, and share with others.

National Homework Hotline for Blind/Visually Impaired Students (NHH-BVI)

What: Homework telephone hotline for blind/vision impaired students in grades K-12 experiencing emergency school closures due to COVID-19.

Areas of hotline help include: navigating accessible websites with JAWS, Nemeth and literary braille reading and writing, navigating tablet/laptop using JAWS and Over, and using refreshable braille display.

*The hotline does not provide tutoring in non-Expanded Core Curriculum content areas

When: Tues -Thurs, 3:30pm - 8pm EST, March 17- April 16, 2020

(*end date may be adjusted based on school closure developments)

How: Students submit a support request via email and receive a call-back during the designated NHH-BVI times.

Who: NHH-BVI helpers are experienced, TVIs, counselors, blind mentors who want to help b/vi students get the support they need to access their remote learning programs.

For more info, and to request an initial NHH-BVI support call, please email nhh-bvi@vistaseducation.com.

About the NHH-BVI Helpers

Monique Coleman

Monique is a TVI and president of VISTAS Education Partners. She has 20 years of experience working with students in a range of K-12 public and private schools. Monique is currently a doctoral candidate at Rutgers University researching the intersection of disability, education, and diverse identities. She lives in Highland Park, NJ with her husband, three sons, two cats, and her faithful dog. She is an active member of her community who serves on the Board of Education and other local organizations.

Brianna Murray

Brianna is a visually impaired counselor who currently works for the Employment, Development, Guidance and Engagement (EDGE) 2.0 program, assisting high school students with pre-employment goals. Brianna also serves as a mentor for college students as a part of Learning Ally's College Success Program. She lives with her current and retired guide dogs, and they keep her very busy. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, and volunteering with various blindness organizations.

Kristen Witucki

Kristen is a TVI who is also blind. She provides itinerant TVI services through VISTAS Education Partners, edits content and curriculum for Learning Ally's College Success Program and mentors college students for the EDGE Program. She lives in Highland Park, NJ with her husband and their three young children. She is the author of two fiction books for adolescents which explore blindness in all of its complexity and of several nonfiction articles about her journey parenting as a blind person. In her snatches of free time, she enjoys reading and writing.

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Homework Hotline for Blind and Visually Impaired Students

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In response to the wave of K-12 school closures across the United States due to COVID-19, a few concerned teachers of the blind and advocates got together to organize a free, homework help hotline for blind/visually impaired students. Check out the details below, and share with others.

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You can make tactile maps of your house, your neighborhood, and intersections using materials around your house.
To make lines/grids, use:
Popsicle sticks and glue
Rolled up aluminum foil
Pipe cleaners
Puff paint
Wikki Stix
Hot glue gun (with parent supervision)
Yarn/String/Twine
Felt
To make landmarks use:
Paper Clips
Pom Poms
Buttons
Velcro
Beads
Hair combs and clips

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Children discuss what they use their canes for and how it helps them. You could make a video or book about how your cane helps you.

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A list of O&M apps listed by subject.

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Mindful Schools is offering mindfulness classes for kids! Join us online - for mindful activities, mindful movement, read-alouds - and let's have fun exploring mindfulness together.

Free Online: Mindfulness Class for Kids!
Sign up to receive new classes in your inbox!
Mindful Schools is designing these online mindfulness classes with K-5 students in mind - AND please know that students and adults of all ages are welcome to participate. We are aware that many families are away from school and work, and we hope this is a resource that families can enjoy together.
Sign up above to receive NEW online classes in your inbox! What to Expect:

Fun and interactive activities for kids such as mindful eating, movement, and more

30 minutes of mindfulness and a restful break from the busyness of daily life

Experienced teachers from the Mindful Schools Training Team

It Takes a Village. Mindful Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and we are relying on the generosity of our community to make this program available. Behind the scenes, there is a whole team that supports Christina, Alan, and our Teachers to design, produce and share these classes for your kids! If you'd like to support Mindful Schools and you have the capacity, please consider what you might spend on enrichment classes for your child and consider a donation to Mindful Schools . Thank you for your support!

Extra Credit!

Students, did you enjoy class today? Send us your notes, photos, and drawings to community@mindfulschools.org, or tag us online:

Educators and parents, tell us how we're doing. Your feedback is important to us so we can continue to create helpful resources for our community. Please email us at community@mindfulschools.org.

FAQs

What age group is this for? While we welcome all age groups including adults, we are designing these classes to be age appropriate for K-5 students. Friends, siblings, parents, and even grandparents are welcome to enjoy the class together!

Can I share this with my community? Yes absolutely - we hope these classes are a helpful resource for everyone in your school community.

How do watch the classes? Sign up to receive an email - we'll send new online classes to your inbox. We also post recordings of past classes on this page.

This Week's Classes

Classes continue below

Watch Our Past Classes

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment - with openness and curiosity.

It has a variety of research-backed impacts, including reduction in stress, and improvements in emotional regulation, and focus. Learn how the benefits of mindfulness can be transformative in education.

About Mindful Schools

Mindful Schools - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - has trained more than 50,000 teachers, school leaders, and education professionals who are dedicated to preparing students with critical life skills to positively shift the outcomes for an entire generation. Please consider a donation to support our work.

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New! ABC's of Mindful Breathing - Free: Online Mindfulness Class for Kids! - Mindful Schools

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Mindful Schools is offering mindfulness classes for kids! Join us online - for mindful activities, mindful movement, read-alouds - and let's have fun exploring mindfulness together. Sign up to receive new classes in your inbox! Mindful Schools is designing these online mindfulness classes with K-5 students in mind - AND please know that students and adults of all ages are welcome to participate.

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Strategies and resources that families can use to support and nurture the development of skills for safe and independent travel

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How to Practice Compass Directions With Your Child (Orientation and Mobility)

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These videos are intentionally left without any verbal narration so OMS can directly interact with students.

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.