The Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential program in Orientation & Mobility (O&M) qualifies graduates to teach individuals who are blind or visually impaired the skills needed to navigate the environment safely and efficiently. Orientation and Mobility specialists work individually with people of all ages from birth through adulthood. Depending upon the age of the learner, orientation & mobility specialists teach skills such as concept development; sensorimotor functioning; use of a long cane and remaining vision; and how to familiarize oneself to a new building or location. Additional skills involve independent travel in residential neighborhoods, shopping malls, and business areas; crossing streets safely, using public transportation, and essentially all skills needed to navigate the environment safely and efficiently. Instruction may take place outdoors and indoors - in home, school, and community settings. A two semester sequence of supervised clinical fieldwork and student teaching ensures that candidates are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through course content and assignments in a variety of orientation and mobility rehabilitation and school settings.
The Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential - Orientation and Mobility authorizes the holder to provide services to students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals with age-appropriate, hands-on experiences and to allow them to learn how to navigate their natural travel settings including home, school and community, become independent travelers and assist in the development of a conceptual understanding of the
environment to students from birth through age 22.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to engaging and supporting all students in learning.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to planning instruction and designing learning experiences for all students.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to assessing student learning.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to developing as a professional educator.