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INDEPENDENT TECHNIQUES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON MOVING ABOUT ON HIS OR HER OWN
PROTECTION USING THE ARM
This will help the visually impaired person to move about with safety.
Extend arm forward to shoulder height. The forearm is then moved across the face with the palm turned out. This position protects the upper body.
Extend arm downward and diagonally across the lower half of the body. The extended arm should cover the full width of the body, i.e. fingers protruding outside opposite hip.
TRAILING
Using the hand to find the way around a room or home.
With this technique a visually impaired person can move safely around following a wall with the hand. Commencing at door opening, the visually impaired person moves or ‘Trails’ along the wall with his arm near to the wall outstretched in front, with the back of the hand moving along the wall. This will protect the fingertips and will tell him/her if there is anything there. When he/she finds an object, such as a chair or table, he/she can feel it. Remember where it is. The visually impaired person should move at a comfortable pace around the room, finding things. When he/she returns to the door he/she can see how much they remember and do it again if necessary.
WORKBENCHES, CHAIRS, TABLES
Visually impaired people should always make sure any area they are going to sit is clear. They should move a hand around the chair or seating area to check. To protect the head when bending hold one hand in front of the face.
When sitting at a table or on the ground to eat, move one hand around in front, carefully, from side to side to the area or table to find where utensils are.
FINDING ANYTHING DROPPED BY ACCIDENT
Try and listen carefully as object hits the ground to remember where it is.
Bend down; keep body and head straight as head may be knocked.
Find the object by moving hands around on the ground, carefully in half circle.
DIRECTION TAKING
Definition
This helps the visually impaired person to use his/her body against something to take a straight line of walking.
Have visually impaired person place his/her back, shoulders, side or arm, against a wall, door, chair or anything that will give him/her straight line towards the place the person wants to go.
The visually impaired person then moves forward using arms for protection toward their destination.
ORIENTATION SKILLS
Orientation means:
A visually impaired person’s ability to use all his/her senses, i.e. hearing, smell touch, taste and any remaining vision to tell where they are and where everything else is around them. This can be either inside or outside, e.g. –
A person can use the sound of a radio or refrigerator to help find out what part of the house he/she is in. A person can use slope of ground or change in feeling under foot, e.g. earth, grass, loose stones, etc., to help tell what area he/she is in.
Orientation skills include the use of:
Remaining Senses
A visually impaired person can make use of many different sounds to help him/her know where she is.
To use the sense of touch, especially in hands and feet to tell what things are around them.
Many different smells and odours can give a person information as to where they are.
Often a change in temperature can tell a person where something is (e.g. shade to sunlight).
Many visually impaired people have a little vision, which could help them to see shapes, or different colours, which can help to tell them where they are.
Landmarks
A landmark is something in an area that is not going to change position. It can be an object, sound, smell, temperature, or something that can be touched, e.g. a wall, an uncommon tree, a house, etc., which will help a person to tell their whereabouts.
Clues
A clue is very much like a landmark, but does not always remain in one place, e.g. sun, wind direction, moving car, animal noises etc.
Compass Directions
These are the four points of the compass – North, South, East and West, which a visually impaired person can use to understand the correct line of direction. The use of the sun and wind can help tell the different compass directions.
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