<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

A significant aspect of Orientation and Mobility is teaching travellers with visual impairments systematic methods to access their environment and evolving these methods to match the complexity of the world around us. At crossings where there is no traffic signal or stop sign, there are increasingly many situations where it is no longer best practice to assume it is clear to cross when quiet, or simply re-route and avoid. This article explains a step-by-step method O&amp;M specialists can use for teaching travellers with visual impairments how to determine if a crossing is a “Situation of Uncertainty” or a “Situation of Confidence” by helping them develop an intuitive understanding of their own crossing time; learn to intuitively and accurately compare their crossing time with the warning time of approaching vehicles; and judge whether or not they can be confident that it is clear to cross whenever it is quiet in that situation. Following this, the article discusses a method that learners can use to determine the level of risk at any given crossing so they can decide if the level of risk is acceptable or unacceptable to them.
</abstract>

Teaching students to recognize and deal with Situations of Uncertainty at uncontrolled crossings

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Background: Visually impaired people have challenges with outdoor mobility, which underscores the need for orientation and mobility rehabilitation training (OMRT). However, awareness and uptake of OMRT among blind people remain very low in Nigeria. The study investigated the association of demographic, physical, and visual impairment-related variables with awareness and uptake of orientation and mobility rehabilitation training (OMRT) in Nigeria
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 361 visually impaired people aged 60 years and over, with best-corrected visual acuity ≤ 20/80 (0.6 LogMAR). The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to assess the risks of falling. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse predictors of awareness and uptake of OMRT
Results: Only 26.88% of those who were aware of OMRT reported accessing Orientation and mobility rehabilitation training (OMRT). The duration of visual impairment (p=0.016), awareness of the cause of Low Vision (p=0.043), and being at the risk of falls (p &lt; 0.001), were significantly associated with taking-up OMRT.
Conclusion: Prolonged delays in referrals for OMRT are a potential cause of apathy towards the uptake of OMRT.
</abstract>

If Late, then Never or Not likely: Uptake of Orientation and Mobility Rehabilitation Training (OMRT) Among Visually Impaired Older Adults

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

According to the World Health Organization, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide are blind or have some degree of near or distance vision impairment. Guide Dogs and other existing mobility aids are valuable tools to support travel and independence for these individuals. Nevertheless, the process of training dogs to be effective mobility aids is expensive, time-consuming, and requires highly specialised expertise. With technology making significant inroads into modern society, intelligent robots that are powered by smart sensing and advanced artificial intelligence present an opportunity to improve the mobility of those with blindness or low vision where access to a Guide Dog is not available. However, developing robust and effective robotic mobility aids with static and dynamic settings for use in both indoor and outdoor environments has remained a difficult task to accomplish. This article compares the capabilities of both existing robotic mobility aids, and existing cutting-edge robotic technologies, against a set of fundamental functional mobility aid characteristics with the aim of proposing a minimum viable product to support people who are blind or have low vision in everyday mobility and navigation tasks. The functional qualities identified and examined were sensing and interpretation, obstacle avoidance and object targeting, fluid and adaptable movement and navigation, interlink of device interface and sensing-interpretation unit, device interface to user, form factor and design. The outcomes of our study indicate that while existing robotic aids are limited in scope and focused on a narrow range of functions, existing cutting-edge robotic technologies have the potential to combine to create a fully-functioning robot guide. We propose a minimum viable product using these technologies as the next step towards a fully-functioning robot guide supporting the mobility and navigation of people who are blind or have low vision.
</abstract>

Intelligent Guide Robots for People who are Blind or have Low Vision: A Review

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.

Vision Rehabilitation International

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

Teaching students to recognize and deal with Situations of Uncertainty at uncontrolled crossings

If Late, then Never or Not likely: Uptake of Orientation and Mobility Rehabilitation Training (OMRT) Among Visually Impaired Older Adults

Intelligent Guide Robots for People who are Blind or have Low Vision: A Review

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