For those of us working in the public schools with the need to write goals and objectives that are measurable, it's helpful to have a formal curriculum to show the hierarchy of skills that we're working within. We had, many years ago, in Michigan a group of O&M Specialists who developed a checklist of skills to be used in assessment. Some folks still use that. I've also used TAPS as a resource as well and would be interested in hearing what others use.

I've done a fair amount of work with digital pictures with my students in order to show to parents and other staff around the kids what the different techniques should look like and and as an explanation of the idea behind what I'm teaching the kids to do. It's often in a storybook form with braille so that the student can read it to someone and can also get some reinforcement for the instruction that I'm providing.

Posted 1/18/06
One thing that I think that would be essential is including games and methods for problem solving. Too often skills or techniques are mastered with using a cane or travel device, but the information gathering, processing and problem solving are absent. I feel that it is important to build these skills. These skills develop over time and if children aren't given the opportunities to exercise such skills then their travels will be impeded. Perhaps including listing of games or exercises that encourage problem solving. One example of a real life experience that comes to mind is thinking about bus transfers. It can be relatively simple for a student to pick up the phone and call the transit agency and be told to transfer at X/Y intersection. However the missing component if not requested or thought about is which corner of the intersection the bus drops you at and which corner you must go to in order to catch the next bus.