Orientation and mobility program at SFA teaches
By: Rachel Shumway
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
SFA's orientation and mobility program offers insight into the life of blind and visually impaired students on campus.
The program, offered through the human services department, trains students how to teach visually impaired students how to travel independently.
Students begin training through a blindfold course, usually 50 to 60 hours. They are taught how to travel by student teachers as an impaired student would on campus, but wearing a blindfold.
Orientation and mobility program assistant professor Barry Stafford hopes the visibility of this program on campus teaches students about those who are visually impaired.
"Generally, what people 'know' about blind and visually impaired people is through Hollywood," he said. "This program gives them an opportunity to ask questions of those who actually live with the disability."
There are relatively few students on campus with visual impairments, and the disability is, therefore, not seen by many other students, according to Stafford.
"It creates a lot of questions when those being trained under blindfold are seen around the campus," he said. "It not only gives the orientation and mobility program a lot of exposure, but more importantly those are impaired.
"People who are blind or visually impaired just happen to be different. Don't be afraid of them, or to ask them questions. Just treat them like a normal person."
The program has been at SFA since 1972 and is the only one of its kind offered at the undergraduate level in the nation.
The program, offered through the human services department, trains students how to teach visually impaired students how to travel independently.
Students begin training through a blindfold course, usually 50 to 60 hours. They are taught how to travel by student teachers as an impaired student would on campus, but wearing a blindfold.
Orientation and mobility program assistant professor Barry Stafford hopes the visibility of this program on campus teaches students about those who are visually impaired.
"Generally, what people 'know' about blind and visually impaired people is through Hollywood," he said. "This program gives them an opportunity to ask questions of those who actually live with the disability."
There are relatively few students on campus with visual impairments, and the disability is, therefore, not seen by many other students, according to Stafford.
"It creates a lot of questions when those being trained under blindfold are seen around the campus," he said. "It not only gives the orientation and mobility program a lot of exposure, but more importantly those are impaired.
"People who are blind or visually impaired just happen to be different. Don't be afraid of them, or to ask them questions. Just treat them like a normal person."
The program has been at SFA since 1972 and is the only one of its kind offered at the undergraduate level in the nation.
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