Background
In 1974, Ebenezer School formally set up the Orientation & Mobility (O&M) teaching curriculum. There was only one professional instructor at that time. To date, there are five instructors, enhancing the number of service receivers and broadening the scope of learning. For the safety and the specific needs of students, all O&M teaching is run on a one-to-one basis.
Definition
Orientation & Mobility (O&M) is a professional rehabilitation training. Orientation means using one's senses to judge one's position, one's relationship with other objects, and utilizing all clues to find routes to go to-and-fro. Orientation means one's ability of movement in an environment, i.e. one's ability walking from one point to another. Through a series of systematic O&M training, learners are expected to walk skillfully, effectively, gracefully and independently.
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Teaching Content
- Horse Riding Training
- Telescope Use Training
- Gross Motor Training
- Life Experiencing
Before the training, instructors will make an evaluation on each student. Based on the students' needs, we will then tailor-make a training course from the normal curriculum and design suitable Supplementary Courses. Instructors also make use of the resources in the community for the benefits of the course and launch researches on the Rehabilitation Education, so as to let our visually impaired students enjoy more resources in their studies.
Three Phases:
- Preparatory Class Phase (4-6 years old) This course is to build up students' confidence in walking, developing proper and sitting postures, and realizing the classroom and school environment. It also enhances the training of other senses and pre-cane skills. It will allow students to understand the basic concepts of space, distance and direction all of which can pave way for future training.
- Junior Phase (P1 to P4) This course is to enhance and consolidate the learnt knowledge and skills in the Preparatory Class Phase, equipping students' for the training of cane skills.
- Senior Phase (P5 to S3) This course is to train students how to use a cane and design a route. It will be run indoors and outdoors. Instructors will teach students how to take local transportation means such as minibus, bus, MTR, ferry, etc, aiming at allowing students to go home and to school independently, and have a good grasp of common routes. Students of the Preparatory Class Phase will have at least 2 months (15-20 hours) of basic training; after being promoted to P1, they will have at least 0.5 year (30-40 hours) of revision plus theory teaching in order to enhance the memory and understanding; lastly, from P5 to S3, they will have at least 1 year (180-200 hours) of training at senior level; those who have passes will be awarded certificates.
All totally blind students, including those from Preparatory Class 3 to P1, those who join in the middle of the term and those who will be entering mainstream schools shortly will be given the first priority to receive O&M training. Others will be treated based on their age, class, urgency and maturity. Students referred by teachers, social workers, staff and parents will be also given consideration in the first place. Students who have entered mainstream schools to study can apply for short-term courses according to their specific needs. Students of serious low vision, especially those whose vision will drop seriously at night will receive a tailor-made training during nighttime.
The effectiveness of the training of each student depends on his or her own talents, endeavors, personal needs, assistance of family members and the like. However, the duration of training comes second. At each phase, instructors will make progress reports regularly and at the senior phase of training, they will make a final report.