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Dr. Merry-Noel Chamberlain will discuss Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) as an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) curriculum which focuses on the foundational techniques necessary to develop future independence for students who are blind or visually impaired. Together, we will explore activities in The ABCs of Structured Discovery Cane Travel for Children, and Structured Discovery Cane Travel Approach to Orientation and Mobility Concepts. Both books address essential non-visual concept development, techniques and mobility skills that are needed to travel efficiently, gracefully, and safely within a myriad of natural environments while using the long, white cane with a metal tip as the primary mobility tool. The SDCT curriculum utilizes transformational knowledge and problem-solving opportunities through teachable moments to develop personal reflection and mental mapping which can be utilized post instruction. Students maximize their cognitive intrinsic feedback while completing everyday mobility tasks. Takeaways: Participants will learn of some tried-and-true skill-building fundamental transformational mobility techniques/activities essential to developing problem-solving mobility independence within natural environments. These activity-based ideas may be used to enhance introduction to and/or assistance with on-going education of comprehending complicated concrete and abstract Orientation and Mobility concepts to help achieve independent mobility. I will share activities that logically transpire through direct exposure, hands-on, and/or teachable moments to help students create mental mapping skills of their surroundings which can then be utilized in novel or unfamiliar environments. |
