Re: Cafeteria Dilemma - College Freshman
Some people ask that it be put in a bag, like for take-out, or
maybe she can bring a cloth bag to be filled.
Is she wanting to go get everything herself?? That would seem to
be a challenge for a blind person, most people I know ask for
assistance to get all the food and find an empty chair.
Hello!? I am an O&M instructor with a client in her first
year in college.? Her main mode of travel is with a guide dog.?
She is struggling in the cafeteria due to not being able to
carry everything. When I was working in public schools I had my
students use hard plastic cafeteria trays with the indentions
for the different pieces of food and a round indention for the
cup.? Is there a different way?? Or should I introduce a hard
plastic tray for her instead of carrying her plate, salad bowl,
silverware, and drink cup.? Right now she is not being
independent. She stands there, they come to her, ask what she
wants, gets it for her, and then walks her to her table. I am
thinking I can have her do it all on her own (except the serving
-- no one serves themselves there) if she had a hard tray.?
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Julie
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
Maryland
|
Cafeteria Dilemma - College Freshman
Hello!? I am an O&M instructor with a client in her first year in college.? Her main mode of travel is with a guide dog.? She is struggling in the cafeteria due to not being able to carry everything. When I was working in public schools I had my students use hard plastic cafeteria trays with the indentions for the different pieces of food and a round indention for the cup.? Is there a different way?? Or should I introduce a hard plastic tray for her instead of carrying her plate, salad bowl, silverware, and drink cup.? Right now she is not being independent. She stands there, they come to her, ask what she wants, gets it for her, and then walks her to her table. I am thinking I can have her do it all on her own (except the serving -- no one serves themselves there) if she had a hard tray.? Thoughts?
Thanks,
Julie
|
Even though there is an assessment in process,? critical needs should be addressed immediately if there is a safety issue during the assessment time to cover everyone's liability I would think- the schools and the O&M assessor.? If the child is unsafe in general
due to the visual impairment, then modifications should be in place to insure his/her safety until official assessment recommendations are made.??
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?
Hello all,
Do any of you have articles or a liability statement about whether a school is covered liability-wise if a young preschooler who is completely blind does not have O&M instruction and falls or gets hurt?? We are in the process of having the student assessed,
but there is a question also about the need for O&M for a preschooler.
Whitney
|
Check out Safe Toddles mobility belt
Hello all,
Do any of you have articles or a liability statement about whether a school is covered liability-wise if a young preschooler who is completely blind does not have O&M instruction and falls or gets hurt?? We are in the process of having the student assessed, but there is a question also about the need for O&M for a preschooler.
Whitney
-- Nancy D. Miller, LMSW (she/her)
Executive Director/CEO VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired 500 Greenwich Street Suite 302 New York, New York 10013 212-625-1616 x 117 Direct 212-219-4071 Cell 917-859-9184
Our vision is for everyone to see what is possible!
|
Hello all,
Do any of you have articles or a liability statement about whether a school is covered liability-wise if a young preschooler who is completely blind does not have O&M instruction and falls or gets hurt?? We are in the process of having the student assessed, but there is a question also about the need for O&M for a preschooler.
Whitney
|
Re: Emergency Preparedness
Hi Jen!? Yes, I was going to send this to you directly as I KNEW
that you're uniquely qualified as an expert in this topic, and
then decided to send to the listserv.
On 8/18/2023 1:46 PM, Jen wrote:
Thanks
Dona!
?
I’ve
been asked after seeing their presentation at DBI in Ottawa
to help them improve their EM/EP programs. I’ll definitely
take a look at this!
?
Jen
?
?
??
From:
Priscilla Acosta-Feliz <pacosta-feliz@...>
Date: August 18, 2023 at 9:30:04 AM EDT
Cc: "Cynthia L. Ingraham, EdD" <cingraham@...>
Subject: Emergency Preparedness
?
Greetings
All!
?
We
hope this email finds you well. HKNC is excited to
announce a new webinar series called “Ready for
Anything: Elevate Your Emergency Preparedness Game.”
This series will launch in the month of September, which
is National Preparedness Month. The series will give
individuals who are DeafBlind and their families,
service providers, and community resource personnel the
tools and resources to prepare for natural disasters or
emergencies in their regions. Please see the attached
flyer for the weekly topics, which will be live every
Wednesday 2:00 pm-3:30 pm EST during the month of
September. To register, visit our website: Emergency
Preparedness Webinar Series – Helen Keller Services
?
Questions?
Contact us at PLD@...
?
Thanks,
and hope to see you there!
Cynthia
?
?
Cynthia Ingraham, EdD EdD | East Central
Representative
she,her,hers
Helen Keller National Center
Laurel, MD 20707
(p) 240-786-6534?(f) 240-667-7295 VP
(m) 516-319-6390?
cingraham@...?
?
??
HKS
is committed to making documents accessible and usable
to participants, the HKS team and stakeholders.??
We recognize that accessibility is fluid and users are
diverse.
Therefore, even though the document may meet
accessibility guidelines, there may be usability issues
.
If you have any questions or concerns about a document
you receive please contact us
?
Priscilla Acosta-Feliz | Administrative Assistant
she/her/hers
Helen Keller National Center
,
(p) 806-337-0023 VP??
pacosta-feliz@...?
?
??
?
HKS
is committed to making documents accessible and usable
to participants, the HKS team and stakeholders.??
We recognize that accessibility is fluid and users are
diverse.
Therefore, even though the document may meet
accessibility guidelines, there may be usability issues
.
If you have any questions or concerns about a document
you receive please contact us
?
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
|
Re: Emergency Preparedness
Thanks Dona! ? I’ve been asked after seeing their presentation at DBI in Ottawa to help them improve their EM/EP programs. I’ll definitely take a look at this! ? Jen ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dona Sauerburger
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2023 10:24 AM
To: [email protected]; O&M AER listserv <OandM@...>
Subject: [OandM] Emergency Preparedness? ?? From: Priscilla Acosta-Feliz <pacosta-feliz@...>
Date: August 18, 2023 at 9:30:04 AM EDT
Cc: "Cynthia L. Ingraham, EdD" <cingraham@...>
Subject: Emergency Preparedness
? Greetings All! ? We hope this email finds you well. HKNC is excited to announce a new webinar series called “Ready for Anything: Elevate Your Emergency Preparedness Game.” This series will launch in the month of September, which is National Preparedness Month. The series will give individuals who are DeafBlind and their families, service providers, and community resource personnel the tools and resources to prepare for natural disasters or emergencies in their regions. Please see the attached flyer for the weekly topics, which will be live every Wednesday 2:00 pm-3:30 pm EST during the month of September. To register, visit our website: Emergency Preparedness Webinar Series – Helen Keller Services ? Questions? Contact us at PLD@... ? Thanks, and hope to see you there! Cynthia ? ? Cynthia Ingraham, EdD EdD | East Central Representative
she,her,hers
Helen Keller National Center
Laurel, MD 20707
(p) 240-786-6534?(f) 240-667-7295 VP
(m) 516-319-6390?
cingraham@...?
? ??
HKS is committed to making documents accessible and usable to participants, the HKS team and stakeholders.??
We recognize that accessibility is fluid and users are diverse.
Therefore, even though the document may meet accessibility guidelines, there may be usability issues .
If you have any questions or concerns about a document you receive please contact us ? Priscilla Acosta-Feliz | Administrative Assistant
she/her/hers
Helen Keller National Center
,
(p) 806-337-0023 VP??
pacosta-feliz@...?
? ??
? HKS is committed to making documents accessible and usable to participants, the HKS team and stakeholders.??
We recognize that accessibility is fluid and users are diverse.
Therefore, even though the document may meet accessibility guidelines, there may be usability issues .
If you have any questions or concerns about a document you receive please contact us ?
|
?? Begin forwarded message:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Priscilla Acosta-Feliz <pacosta-feliz@...> Date: August 18, 2023 at 9:30:04 AM EDT Cc: "Cynthia L. Ingraham, EdD" <cingraham@...> Subject: Emergency Preparedness
?
Greetings All!
?
We hope this email finds you well. HKNC is excited to announce a new webinar series called “Ready for Anything: Elevate
Your Emergency Preparedness Game.” This series will launch in the month of September, which is National Preparedness Month. The series will give individuals who are DeafBlind and their families, service providers, and community resource personnel the tools
and resources to prepare for natural disasters or emergencies in their regions. Please see the attached flyer for the weekly topics, which will be live every Wednesday 2:00 pm-3:30 pm EST during the month of September. To register, visit our website: Emergency
Preparedness Webinar Series – Helen Keller Services
?
Questions? Contact us at
PLD@...
?
Thanks, and hope to see you there!
Cynthia
?
?
Cynthia Ingraham, EdD EdD | East Central Representative
she,her,hers
Helen Keller National Center
Laurel, MD 20707
(p) 240-786-6534?(f) 240-667-7295 VP
(m) 516-319-6390?
cingraham@...?
? ??
HKS is committed to making documents accessible and usable to participants, the HKS team and stakeholders.??
We recognize that accessibility is fluid and users are diverse.
Therefore, even though the document may meet accessibility guidelines, there may be usability issues .
If you have any questions or concerns about a document you receive please contact us
?
Priscilla Acosta-Feliz | Administrative Assistant
she/her/hers
Helen Keller National Center
, (p) 806-337-0023 VP?? pacosta-feliz@...? ? ??
HKS is committed to making documents accessible and usable to participants, the HKS team and stakeholders.??
We recognize that accessibility is fluid and users are diverse.
Therefore, even though the document may meet accessibility guidelines, there may be usability issues .
If you have any questions or concerns about a document you receive please contact us
|
O&M near Kutztown University
Looking for an O&M that could do a familiarization of campus for a new student at Kutztown university in Berks county.
Thank you, on behalf of Waleska, wlopezjime@...
267-597-0102
P. Maurie Kerrigan COMS/CLVT
|
Hello everyone! John here: ? We at Protactile Language Interpreting National Education Program are excited to welcome applications from interpreters who live in the following nine states: California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington State.? It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.? Please feel free to spread the word—thank you for helping. ? A link and a text summary can be found below.? Good luck! ?
? Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 Protactile Language Interpreting Intensive Cohort!
The Protactile Language Interpreting National Education Program is charged with preparing interpreters working with DeafBlind individuals in Protactile language. Training is provided by DeafBlind educators. For those interpreters who work regularly in communities with greater concentrations of DeafBlind individuals, PLI is launching a 9-month long cohort starting in the fall of 2023. This is a small cohort of 16 participants to maintain small educator-to-student ratio and cohort experiences. Each cohort is a community of practice, sharing their newly-applied learnings, skills, knowledge and resources with each other and their instructors and mentors.
There is no other intensive, immersion opportunity preparing interpreters in learning, practicing, applying, and interpreting in Protactile language. We are grateful to the talented DeafBlind leaders, teachers, trainers, and mentors who are partnering with PLI to make this program a reality!
Under the direction of DeafBlind leaders and PLI staff, cohort participants will learn more about Protactile language, the Co-Navigator role, and Protactile's linguistic parameters through a 208-hour intensive experience, including an online learning community, 2 weeks onsite (January and May) for Protactile language immersion, and 20+-hours of mentorship and 2+ hours of applied learning (induction) in the participant's home community with DeafBlind individuals.
PLI has received a high volume of interest in this training and can only admit a total of 16 interpreters for this cohort - and only from 9 identified states - so be sure to spread the word and encourage folks to apply! For us to have the most success, we strongly encourage you to reach out to the DeafBlind leaders in these 9 states (CA, IL, LA, MA, MN, NY, NC, TX, WA) and encourage them to utilize their networks to recommend applicants.?
The application closes Friday, September 15th, 2023 at 11:59pm PT. Apply now at this link:?
? ?
|
Canes for wheelchair users
Hi Becky! ?To find out how long your cane needs to be, you might experiment to see how much warning you need for unexpected hazards and drop-offs with the cane technique you’re using at the speed you normally go.
Find an edge of something that won’t be hazardous if you miss it (the edge of a carpet, maybe a wooden board someone can place randomly in your path, etc.) and move towards it, using your cane. ?Did you stop before your wheel reached the “hazard”? ?If not, you need more warning (I.e., a longer cane).
Detecting a drop-off can be more difficult than detecting something like a board or edge of carpet, so the next step would be to figure out if you can have enough warning about that. ?I usually find a short drop-off that wouldn’t be disastrous if the chair dropped off the edge, and work with that.
Detecting a drop off requires good proprioception in the wrist, properly using the cane without moving your arm, etc. It may be that an Alternative Mobility Device would be more effective. — Dona ————————— Dona Sauerburger, COMS www.sauerburger.org/Dona
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On Aug 13, 2023, at 12:20 PM, Kassandra Maloney Heil <kassandra@...> wrote:
? Thanks for speaking up about your experiences, Becky! As you know, O&M is constantly evolving as we learn more of what works, what doesn’t, and adapt to the ever-changing environment.?
I really appreciate you advocating for your needs and experiences.?
All the best,? ? ? Kassy Maloney On Aug 12, 2023, at 12:38 PM, Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly@...> wrote:
?
Look this is a real blind person talking to you. I have walked sighted guide by all ages of persons with my tip of my cane pointed in not touching the ground. In my forty something years of honoring my O and M Specialist by listening and using their guidance: I have been run many times into signs, run off curbs, falling over hitting my foot on those bumpers that you all park your cars towards, run into wooden stands, nocked over displays in stores. No thank you on this very wrong technique. I will use my cane lightly tapping to cover my right side. If my cane detects a drop off or obstacle I will take the responsibility and go behind the person.? I am so sick of the sicky phrase, “I didn’t see that.” I except the apology.
?
Please someone research and debunk the sighted guide lifting your cane misguidance you all are teaching. I will bet my last hundred dollars that real blind person all have come close to falling or did fall because of this misguidance of technique.
?
Now I am in a wheelchair and use a short, well sort of cane you all fit me with. If I take you sighted guide, I hope you are responsible enough for your own safety. Yes my cane will go over more to the right to cover you, but you can use your cane to make certain you are truly safe.
?
By the way, I rarely in my forty years of using a cane used sighted guide, yet I had all these mishaps. Kids do a great job and I have never fallen with a child guiding me.
?
By the way, how long should my cane be as I roll along, giggle. To long and I sort of get disoriented. So far the forty-eight inch long cane is good, but I think I need to go a bit longer. ?????
?
Becky in her Joy Wheels
b.butterfly@...
|
Thanks for speaking up about your experiences, Becky! As you know, O&M is constantly evolving as we learn more of what works, what doesn’t, and adapt to the ever-changing environment.?
I really appreciate you advocating for your needs and experiences.?
All the best,? ? ? Kassy Maloney
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Show quoted text
On Aug 12, 2023, at 12:38 PM, Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly@...> wrote:
?
Look this is a real blind person talking to you. I have walked sighted guide by all ages of persons with my tip of my cane pointed in not touching the ground. In my forty something years of honoring my O and M Specialist by listening and using their guidance: I have been run many times into signs, run off curbs, falling over hitting my foot on those bumpers that you all park your cars towards, run into wooden stands, nocked over displays in stores. No thank you on this very wrong technique. I will use my cane lightly tapping to cover my right side. If my cane detects a drop off or obstacle I will take the responsibility and go behind the person.? I am so sick of the sicky phrase, “I didn’t see that.” I except the apology.
?
Please someone research and debunk the sighted guide lifting your cane misguidance you all are teaching. I will bet my last hundred dollars that real blind person all have come close to falling or did fall because of this misguidance of technique.
?
Now I am in a wheelchair and use a short, well sort of cane you all fit me with. If I take you sighted guide, I hope you are responsible enough for your own safety. Yes my cane will go over more to the right to cover you, but you can use your cane to make certain you are truly safe.
?
By the way, I rarely in my forty years of using a cane used sighted guide, yet I had all these mishaps. Kids do a great job and I have never fallen with a child guiding me.
?
By the way, how long should my cane be as I roll along, giggle. To long and I sort of get disoriented. So far the forty-eight inch long cane is good, but I think I need to go a bit longer. ?????
?
Becky in her Joy Wheels
b.butterfly@...
|
Look this is a real blind person talking to you. I have walked sighted guide by all ages of persons with my tip of my cane pointed in not touching the ground. In my forty something years of honoring my O and M Specialist by listening and using their guidance: I have been run many times into signs, run off curbs, falling over hitting my foot on those bumpers that you all park your cars towards, run into wooden stands, nocked over displays in stores. No thank you on this very wrong technique. I will use my cane lightly tapping to cover my right side. If my cane detects a drop off or obstacle I will take the responsibility and go behind the person.? I am so sick of the sicky phrase, “I didn’t see that.” I except the apology.
?
Please someone research and debunk the sighted guide lifting your cane misguidance you all are teaching. I will bet my last hundred dollars that real blind person all have come close to falling or did fall because of this misguidance of technique.
?
Now I am in a wheelchair and use a short, well sort of cane you all fit me with. If I take you sighted guide, I hope you are responsible enough for your own safety. Yes my cane will go over more to the right to cover you, but you can use your cane to make certain you are truly safe.
?
By the way, I rarely in my forty years of using a cane used sighted guide, yet I had all these mishaps. Kids do a great job and I have never fallen with a child guiding me.
?
By the way, how long should my cane be as I roll along, giggle. To long and I sort of get disoriented. So far the forty-eight inch long cane is good, but I think I need to go a bit longer. ?????
?
Becky in her Joy Wheels
b.butterfly@...
|
Re: Guide in a motorized wheelchair
|
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?
wow, Amy, you keep coming up with great questions!
I'd say whatever they feel comfortable with.? Walking to the side while holding the handle would seem as safe as walking in the normal position with a walking human guide.-- in both cases the guide has to allow for enough clearance.? If the blind person
doesn't trust the guide, then walking behind would be good.
OR, they can do what one young couple did when I went to the University of Pittsburgh as an undergrad (before they had an O&M program there).? I think they eventually got married -- the guy was blind and the gal was in an electric wheelchair, and it was
a common sight to see them flying through the campus with him riding on the back, standing up and leaning forward!? I'm sure their PT would object but . . .
On 8/10/2023 9:46 PM, Amy Downard wrote:
Hi friends,
Here’s one that is interesting. If a school staff person is in a motorized wheelchair and providing human guide to a young student who is blind using a white cane, where’s the positioning of the student? Hold onto back of wheelchair and no cane?
To the back and side of the non-driving side of the guide with congested area cane? Where so they grip?? Can’t wait to read your kind responses!
Aloha
Amy
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
--
Anne EVRARD?-?????? ???????
COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité
? ? ? ? ? ??? ? ? ?
CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec
Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon
375, rue Vachon
Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6
Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504
fax: 1 (819) 374 4967
E-Mail:?anne_evrard@...
|
Re: Guide in a motorized wheelchair
What a fun question! I’ve had learners hold onto the arm of the chair, walking to the side and slightly behind the wheelchair with their free hand on the shaft of their cane with the tip close to their body.?
I’ve found that unless there is a very great awareness of space and the wheelchair user can drive very close to the edge of the sidewalk, there is not typically enough sidewalk space for the person being guided to have a full amount of sidewalk in front of their bodies at all times. There’s the inevitable stepping off the sidewalk from time to time, which warrants cane use. (Even through the outer foot would still be the one stepping off the sidewalk and may not have been covered).?
It would probably depend on why the person is being guided in the first place, the environment, and their level of cane skills.?
Has Scott chimed in on these conversations yet? I love the way his brain thinks about wheelchairs.?
Happy Friday!?
? ? ? Kassy
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Show quoted text
On Aug 10, 2023, at 9:06 PM, Dona Sauerburger <dona@...> wrote:
?
wow, Amy, you keep coming up with great questions!
I'd say whatever they feel comfortable with.? Walking to the side
while holding the handle would seem as safe as walking in the
normal position with a walking human guide.-- in both cases the
guide has to allow for enough clearance.? If the blind person
doesn't trust the guide, then walking behind would be good.
OR, they can do what one young couple did when I went to the
University of Pittsburgh as an undergrad (before they had an
O&M program there).? I think they eventually got married --
the guy was blind and the gal was in an electric wheelchair, and
it was a common sight to see them flying through the campus with
him riding on the back, standing up and leaning forward!? I'm sure
their PT would object but . . .
On 8/10/2023 9:46 PM, Amy Downard
wrote:
Hi friends,
Here’s one that is interesting. If a school staff
person is in a motorized wheelchair and providing human guide to
a young student who is blind using a white cane, where’s the
positioning of the student? Hold onto back of wheelchair and no
cane? To the back and side of the non-driving side of the guide
with congested area cane? Where so they grip?? Can’t wait to
read your kind responses!
Aloha
Amy
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
|
Re: Guide in a motorized wheelchair
wow, Amy, you keep coming up with great questions!
I'd say whatever they feel comfortable with.? Walking to the side
while holding the handle would seem as safe as walking in the
normal position with a walking human guide.-- in both cases the
guide has to allow for enough clearance.? If the blind person
doesn't trust the guide, then walking behind would be good.
OR, they can do what one young couple did when I went to the
University of Pittsburgh as an undergrad (before they had an
O&M program there).? I think they eventually got married --
the guy was blind and the gal was in an electric wheelchair, and
it was a common sight to see them flying through the campus with
him riding on the back, standing up and leaning forward!? I'm sure
their PT would object but . . .
On 8/10/2023 9:46 PM, Amy Downard
wrote:
Hi friends,
Here’s one that is interesting. If a school staff
person is in a motorized wheelchair and providing human guide to
a young student who is blind using a white cane, where’s the
positioning of the student? Hold onto back of wheelchair and no
cane? To the back and side of the non-driving side of the guide
with congested area cane? Where so they grip?? Can’t wait to
read your kind responses!
Aloha
Amy
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
|
Guide in a motorized wheelchair
Hi friends,
Here’s one that is interesting. If a school staff person is in a motorized wheelchair and providing human guide to a young student who is blind using a white cane, where’s the positioning of the student? Hold onto back of wheelchair and no cane? To the back and side of the non-driving side of the guide with congested area cane? Where so they grip?? Can’t wait to read your kind responses!
Aloha Amy
|
There are two O&M positions open in VA—Fairfax in Northern Virginia and Staunton in the mountains in western Virginia.? Both are great areas with a lot to offer!
?
?
?
?
Melanie Hughes, M.S., COMS
Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Fairfax office
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
11150 Fairfax Blvd. St. 502?Fairfax, VA 22030
Mobile:? 571-422-3579
FAX: 703 359 1111
|?|?
Melanie.hughes@...
?
?
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Re: O&M and theatre stages
Jack, great suggestions. I just want to question one of your thoughts. I assume that you are suggesting a black Ambutech cane because it would not be as obvious on stage. I would suggest that if the actor is playing the character as a blind or low vision person, then a white cane should be used. The black cane would attempt to downplay something that is simply a feature of both the character and the actor. The O&M part of me does not want to see colored canes promoted as generally acceptable for the travel of blind and visually impaired people because of the public’s knowledge of the white cane being an indicator of blindness, and because of the legal protections associated with the use of a WHITE cane. Recognition of a white cane indicating blindness is understood by roughly 70% of drivers according to a study published several years ago.? I think Gene Berquin was one of the authors. ?We need to keep working on raising this percentage rather than creating confusion which could lower understanding. I have been one of several COMS who has challenged Ambutech for even manufacturing fashion colored canes. I think that some of our efforts have resulted in Ambutech now providing materials with colored canes warning that they may not be covered under some of the white cane laws. I have relaxed my position a little bit at the urging of some clients and blind consumers who tell me that they only use the colored canes when they are not traveling alone or not going to be interacting with traffic. Certainly, people should have the right to make fashion statements by coordinating cane color with colors of outfits, but they should do so with full knowledge of the legal protections they may be forfeiting, and in my view, people who are blind representing that variety of people on stage should not use the colored canes. ? If the actor is not playing the character as a person who is blind or visually impaired, then the use of other O&M accommodations should probably be used instead of the cane. A black cane will only raise questions, and will be nonetheless sufficiently obvious that the audience will notice it. ? I saw a production of “School House Rock” starring one of my students in the role of Bill. This character has only one major scene in the show, but he is definitely the star of that scene. ?I did not consult with the director or choreographer, but did chat directly with my student, who was a high school Junior, about movement on stage. I was quite impressed with the accommodations employed. The student was rolled onto the stage by other cast members standing on a raised platform. I think the rise was about one foot, and the measurements were probably about 15 by 20 feet. My student has excellent special concepts and perceptions, and although he has little more than light perception, he was able to restrict his dance moves to that platform and not fall off of it, which would have only been a drop of a foot or less, It was not a problem for him to avoid this, and it created no opportunity for him to fall off of the front of the stage into the orchestra pit. The character was not played as a blind person and he did not have his white cane on the platform, but when he came on stage for the curtain call and moved to the front of the stage to take a bow at the end of the performance, he did have his white cane with him and used it to identify the front of the stage. ? Michael Byington, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist President of Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. Treasurer for Friends In Art of the American Council of the Blind 712 S. Kansas Avenue Suite 414D-F Topeka, Kansas 66603 (785) 221-7111 ByingtonCOMS@... ? ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Jack Mitchell Sent: Thursday, August 3, 2023 6:34 AM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [OandM] O&M and theatre stages ? A few years back, I saw an acquaintance of mine who has very low vision in a production of pippin as a member of the chorus.? They used multiple ways to help him get around.? ?In some cases, he would enter or exit with another cast member using a modified human guide,? sometimes he would come in on his own, knowing how far he needed to go to get to his mark, at least a couple of times he actually had a cane with him.?? Since your student has light perception, they could possibly orient based on where the stage lights are, to better maintain a line of travel.? They could also use the position of walls or curtains to establish a direction.? Combined with being able to make accurate turns and maintain a line of travel that could make it much more possible for them to move independently.?? As an O&M, and possibly in conjunction with the choerographer, it seems like some of the most useful skills that you could work on with your student would be maintaining a line of travel, making accurate turns, walking with a smooth regular gait, and making good use of time and distance.? If your student is not comfortable traveling independently without a cane, an extra long prop cane might be able to be used, or possibly a black ambutech cane would provide some forward? protection for them.??
Thanks for your additional comment ; you are right,? my student who sings very well (and compose? songs) will probably be involved in musical comedies and he will need to move. More I am reading your inputs, more I am deciding that as soon as I can, I will meet his theater teachers to have a exchange of ideas. Also, I got this morning from a friend of mine who is a COMS, this video of a wonderful student which is very inspiring ! | A visually impaired student in the north metro is shining a light on her condition through her love of theater. FOX 9’s Maury Glover has the story. Subscribe to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul Watch FOX 9 Live: FOX 9 is your source for breaking ... |
?-??????????????? COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité?? CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6 Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504? ?Veuillez prendre note que je suis en congé un lundi sur deux.
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? Anne, this is just a short reply to suggest that your client, who is obviously interested in the theatre, not limit himself from auditioning for musicals where there may be choreography involved, especially if he has a good voice and wants to sing. I am a legally blind person with a strong and fairly serviceable singing voice. I also experience some of the deficits in coordination often associated with congenital legal blindness. I am a choreographer’s worst nightmare. Back when I was acting, however, I have nonetheless been in several musicals where I have been required to participate in dance numbers.? I was never cast as a daring young male lead, an athlete, or in other character roles that called on me to be debonair and macho. In the roles I have played and sung, I was able to incorporate my lack of coordination into a part of the character. A good and creative choreographer can work with this, so that a dancer such as myself appears to simply be dancing in accordance with the capabilities of the character. There are a lot of choreographers out there who are not that flexible or creative, and your client will miss out on parts simply because the choreographer is not willing to work with the adaptive movement of the performer, but the field is beginning to come around concerning some of these issues. I welcome your client to the campaign Michael Byington, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist President of Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. Treasurer for Friends In Art of the American Council of the Blind 712 S. Kansas Avenue Suite 414D-F Topeka, Kansas 66603 (785) 221-7111 ByingtonCOMS@... ? ? ? I really hope that? I will meet a choreographer/ theater director, but it's not yet in the agenda.? Also, my student is not good at all in dancing (poor coordination). So, I am sure he will avoid that kind of performance.. but maybe he won't have any choice!! ?-??????????????? COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité?? CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6 Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504? ?Veuillez prendre note que je suis en congé un lundi sur deux.
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? Is there a choreographer involved? Maybe when it comes to using dance steps that could be incorporated into the “blocking“ process Doug Gilbert? ? On Jul 31, 2023, at 10:30 AM, Anne Evrard (MCQ) via groups.io <anne_evrard@...> wrote:
? I have a student, 20 years old,? with light perception, who is going to study in theatre next semester. I was asking to orient him on different stages, of the campus. Of course, I will take our time to give him a good familiarization of each stage while working with him, but it will be without accessories/furnitures, without his classmates and with a regular lighting (not the one that will be for the performances). Knowing that he won't use all the time his cane? while he will perform do you have any tricks or advices that I can give him? Thanks in advance for your responses, ?-??????????????? COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité?? CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6 Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504? ?Veuillez prendre note que je suis en congé un lundi sur deux.
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Anne EVRARD?-?????? ??????? COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité ? ? ? ? ? ??? ? ? ? CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6 Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504
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Anne EVRARD?-?????? ??????? COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité ? ? ? ? ? ???? ? ? CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6 Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504
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Anne EVRARD?-?????? ??????? COMS, Spécialiste en Orientation et Mobilité ? ? ? ? ? ???? ? ? CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique-Déficience Visuelle?Vachon Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8T 8P6 Tél: 1 (819)??378 4083? ext.1504
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Job opening in Winter Haven Fl
Good Morning all,
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There is an opening for an COMS in Winter Haven, FL.? It is at a satellite for Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind.? Winter Haven is a little town in central Florida, near Disney World and about an hour from Tampa and beaches!!!? Contact information and job description are below...stay cool out there!!!? Take care!!!
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Orientation and Mobility Specialist
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STARTING PAY:? Salary will be based on degree level and experience
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BENEFITS:? Medical & Life Insurance; 403b pension plan, vacation & sick leave, paid holidays, personal leave days, professional development, optional low-cost dental and other supplemental insurance plans
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REPORTS TO:? Director of Program Services
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LOCATION (position based at):? Winter Haven, FL
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Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision currently has an opportunity for an Orientation and Mobility Specialist.? This position is responsible for the organization, planning and direct provision of orientation and mobility to adults who are blind and visually impaired.? ??
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The position will be based out of our Winter Haven office located at 206 Avenue D, N.W., Winter Haven, FL.
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Key Responsibilities and Duties
-? Assess each adult’s O&M training needs, then plan and provide orientation and mobility training as needed.
-? Monitor for safety in all scenarios of instruction and provide modifications for client as needed.
-? Provide individualized instruction in all basic and advanced orientation and mobility skills according to client needs.
-? Instruction may be provided in job, college, community and/or home environments.
-? Cooperate and consult with other staff members and other professionals on common matters, volunteers and community resources on behalf of the client.
-? Assist in the development of community resources and education through in-service training programs.
-? Keep up to date with knowledge and techniques in relevant fields.
-? Complete all paperwork and applicable reporting requirements.
-? Other duties and projects as assigned.
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Qualifications & Requirements
-? Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Orientation and Mobility.
-? Must be ACVREP Certifiable in O&M (COMS) with intention of achieving permanent certification within one year of hire date.
-? Discerning judgment and empathetic understanding of clients.
-? Flexibility and imagination in teaching and programming.
-? Reliable transportation.
-? Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.?
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Melanie Hughes