Education Commons^™

You Live Where? Maximizing O&M Services In Rural And Remote Areas Through Distance Consultation, Amy T. Parker, Mary J. Tellefson

Special Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

The region served by Portland State University’s Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) hybrid preparation program is geographically vast. The states of OR, WA, ID, MT, AK, and HI comprise 28% of the US's geography, covering more than 1,061,000 square miles. Because of regional personnel shortages, faculty must prepare candidates to serve geographically dispersed children and adults with visual impairment or deaf-blindness using technologies that support distance-based consultation.

As a part of a federally funded grant from the US Department of Education, faculty in the O&M program developed an online learning module for candidates to use as …

Intersection: Orientation And Mobility As Interdisciplinary Conversation, Amy T. Parker, Prateek Dujari

PSU Transportation Seminars

Knowing where one wants to go and how to get there are essential life skills for all people. Community access and travel skills are not only important rites of passage for youth in becoming adults, they are linked to higher rates of employment and overall health. People who are blind and visually impaired (BVI) face challenges in accessing public transportation, yet studies have shown that with relevant orientation and mobility instruction, technology, and accessible design, vision loss need not preclude community travel.

Join PSU's Amy Parker and Intel's Prateek Dujari on the ways that knowledge from consumers and the field …

Podcasts Episode 09: Lane Mckittrick, Lane Mckittrick, Amy T. Parker

O&M On the Go

Lane McKittrick is the mother of 4 boys, two of whom have Usher Syndrome, a leading cause of deafblindness. Lane is also a Ph.D. student at the University of Northern Colorado in special education with an interest in self-determination research. In this podcast, Lane shares insights with Amy about the role of the Orientation and Mobility Specialist in supporting the development of self-determination skills from the perspective of a mother and from the perspective of a graduate researcher. Lane includes practical advice for O&M students and practitioners for working with individuals, families and teams.

Podcasts Episode 07: Doug Trimble, Doug Trimble, Amy T. Parker

O&M On the Go

Doug Trimble is an experienced Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist who instructs children and adults in Washington state. Doug is a full time COMS at the Washington State School for the Blind who also contracts to serve adults, including older adults, who are blind or have low vision. In this podcast, Doug shared with Amy Parker at Portland State University about how he developed his skills and what he has learned over the years. As a COMS with a vision loss, Doug shares about non-visual teaching techniques that he models and uses with his students and clients.

https://www2.wssb.wa.gov/Content/oncampus/orientationmobility.asp

Image Credit: …

Podcasts Episode 08: Dr. Nora Griffin-Shirley, Amy T. Parker, Nora Griffin-Shirley

O&M On the Go

Dr. Nora Griffin-Shirley is a professor and the Director of the Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities at Texas Tech University. Nora coordinates the Orientation and Mobility Specialist and Sensory Impairments and Autism programs at Texas Tech University.

https://www.depts.ttu.edu/education/our-people/Faculty/nora_griffin_shirley.php

Podcasts Episode 10: Jen Armbruster, Jen Armbruster, Amy T. Parker

O&M On the Go

In this interview, Jen shares her experiences as an athlete and her view on inclusive recreation for all students who are blind and visually impaired. She offers advice about having high expectations for students and encourages Orientation and Mobility Specialists to learn about the power of inclusive sports.