Editorial

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<italic>Excessive stress impairs learning. The Tellington TTouch method (TTouch) is used to reduce stress and relax animals so they can learn more effectively. It aims at increasing an animal’s body awareness and balance by using a combination of techniques that include specific touches, body wraps, and leading (movement) exercises. This article introduces the TTouch method, its role in sensory enhanced learning, and provides a review of TTouch in the scientific literature and the way this applies to stress in guide dogs. The article concludes with a discussion of the benefits of integrating TTouch in guide dog training.</italic>

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Guide Dog Trainer, TTouch Practitioner, Bach Flower Registered Practitioner, Staff Training Coordinator

Using TTouch to Reduce Stress and Enhance Learning when Training Guide Dogs

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<italic>In the U.S. and Australia, O&amp;M training has evolved from service provision solely to people with vision impairment, to people with vision impairment and additional disabilities, to people with sight who have functional mobility needs. Expansion of O&amp;M training to include people with sight who have mobility needs responds to: (i) a demand by senior management for organisational cost efficiencies; (ii) social and education policies that require people with disabilities to be mobile so they can access a range of services, as well as the community; (iii) an ethical and moral expectation by society for inclusive services to all people with disability.</italic>

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Back to the Future: Expanding the Profession – O&amp;M for People with Disabilities

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<italic>In 2013, members of the Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia ratified a Quality Framework for the O&amp;M profession, including an OMAA Code of Ethics and OMAA Standards of Practice. The OMAA Quality Framework took a six member committee four years to develop and involved extensive collaboration across Australia and New Zealand. During the process, the Committee discussed such themes as best practice, exemplary performance, minimum standards, independence, and self-determination. A community model of O&amp;M practice was devised, demonstrating the way that power is shared in relationships between the client, the O&amp;M specialist and other stakeholders. The OMAA Quality Framework represents exemplary O&amp;M practice in the Australasian region and is available on the OMAA website (<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="http://www.omaaustralasia.com/qualityframework">http://www.omaaustralasia.com/qualityframework</ext-link>).</italic>

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Developing O&amp;M Standards for Australasia

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<italic>This paper reviews the current literature to identify the way an orientation and mobility (O&amp;M) instructor could effectively predict and/or reduce falls in the Australian-based elderly population with vision impairment. Common causes of falls associated with elderly people with vision impairment are discussed as are the shortcomings of falls prevention programs. Three assessment tools used to predict an individual’s risk of falling for the first time have been reviewed. Of the three, the QuickScreen tool could be readily used by an O&amp;M instructor working with clients in their home that appears to be an efficient and cost effective resource providing the base for a successful falls prevention program.</italic>

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A Step to Prevent Falls in the Elderly: A Literature Review

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<italic>This paper examines the current literature about toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease affecting approximately one third of the world’s human population. The disease causes a range of disorders, among them ophthalmic disorders. Case studies are used to describe the effect of the disease on functional mobility, and the type of orientation and mobility training provided.</italic>

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Toxoplasmosis and Vision Impairment

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<italic>A 23-item difficulty with mobility questionnaire (DMQ) was piloted with 32 persons who had participated in a one-week orientation and mobility (O&amp;M) course offered by Guide Dogs Queensland in early 2014 to determine its potential utility as an outcome measure for O&amp;M instruction. The DMQ was assessed for reliability, validity, and sensitivity. Reliability was established using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Validity was assessed by determining the extent to which the total difficulty score correlated with a single-item global measure of ability to get around. Sensitivity of each of the difficulty items to reflect change following completion of the course was assessed by comparing pretreatment to post-treatment scores using paired samples t-tests. Acceptable levels of reliability, validity, and sensitivity were demonstrated.</italic>

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Development of the Difficulty with Mobility Questionnaire: A Pilot Study

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<italic>This study investigated the experiences of men and women with vision disabilities knowing about and participating in information programs provided by guide dog organisations; and investigated the way information programs affect people’s perceptions and attitudes towards guide dogs in Japan where people are hesitant to acquire a guide dog. The results suggest that the information programs had been widely publicised and were familiar to participants. Younger women were the most experienced with and positive toward guide dogs and older women the least. However, nearly one third of the participants were not satisfied with the amount of information they had acquired about guide dogs. Information programs need to be more accessible, especially to people interested in acquiring a guide dog.</italic>

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Japanese People with Vision Disabilities Rate their Experiences with Information Resources Pertaining to Guide Dogs

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<italic>The demand for orientation and mobility (O&amp;M) training for very young children with blindness or vision impairment (B/VI) and their families is increasing in the Early Intervention (EI) period. However, the extreme shortage of qualified O&amp;M specialists to work with this population may be limiting their access to appropriate services. This study used a needs assessment survey to collect information about the feasibility of providing O&amp;M services in EI using the alternative service delivery model of teleintervention. Responses from 121 individuals in the profession of EI for young children with B/VI provide insight on the current practices and perceptions of practitioners, educators, and administrators. The results of this study and its implications for future research are discussed.</italic>

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Feasibility of Orientation and Mobility Services for Young Children with Vision Impairment using Teleintervention

The Art and Science of Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Persons with Visual Impairment

Welcome

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 14 (2023): Issue 1 (December 2023)

Volume 13 (2022): Issue 1 (December 2022)

Volume 12 (2021): Issue 1 (January 2021)

Volume 11 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 10 (2019): Issue 1 (January 2019)

Volume 9 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 8 (2017): Issue 1 (January 2017)

Volume 7 (2017): Issue 1 (January 2017)

Volume 6 (2013): Issue 1 (January 2013)

Volume 5 (2012): Issue 1 (January 2012)

Volume 4 (2011): Issue 1 (January 2011)

Volume 3 (2010): Issue 1 (January 2010)

Volume 2 (2009): Issue 1 (January 2009)

Volume 1 (2008): Issue 1 (January 2008)

Vision Rehabilitation International

Vision Re/habilitation International is a journal intended to provide a forum for scholarly exchange among people dedicated to and involved any work relating to vision habilitation and rehabilitation of people who are blind or vision impaired. Articles considered for publication include:   original research, with practical relevance to the O&amp;M of people who are blind or vision impaired,  critical reviews of substantive areas,  theoretical position papers,  descriptions, reviews, or evaluations of innovative instructional approaches,  conceptual papers, comprehensive reviews, case studies, and policy analyses.  The editors also aim at providing a forum for discourse, debate, and critical analyses on any aspect of O&amp;M, for example, existing philosophies, policy, or practice.  Open Access Policy  This journal provides immediate open access to its content under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license users are free to share the work (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format), if the contribution is properly attributed and used for non-commercial purposes. The material published in the journal may not be altered or build upon.  ABOUT SOCIETY  Vision Re/habilitation International is supported by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.  Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of Guide Dogs and orientation and mobility services that enable people with vision impairment to travel safely and independently. Each year university trained Orientation and Mobility specialists work with around 4,000 people of all ages to help them achieve their mobility goals.  Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is a Registered Provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process.