The Correlation Between Mental Mapping Skills and Orientation with Lil Deverell
Dec 08, 2020
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) professionals are dedicated to helping individuals with visual impairments navigate the world around them with confidence and independence. Over the years, the field has seen many advancements in technology and resources that provide new opportunities for more accessible and effective instruction. In this blog, we will explore three groundbreaking developments that are changing the way O&M specialists work with their students and clients: beacon technology, tactile mapping systems, and Person-Centered practice.
1. Beacon Technology: Bridging the Gap in the Physical World
Imagine walking into a building and your phone notifying you that the nearest restroom is just around the corner, or telling you that you're three meters from a public toilet. For people with sensory impairments, such real-time, location-based information can be a game-changer.
This is where beacon technology comes into play. Beacons are small, wireless transmitters that communicate with your smartphone when you're within their range. They can be installed around a building, offering real-time notifications about the environment. These beacons can provide directions, information about points of interest, and critical access details, such as the location of toilets or elevators, to users through an app.
In particular, beacon technology holds great promise for tourists and shoppers, as well as people with sensory limitations. For instance, people with visual impairments can receive specific directions, such as, "The door to the office is on your right" or "The water fountain is on your left, about three meters away." With this level of accessibility, individuals can navigate unfamiliar environments with greater confidence, making it easier to explore and interact with the world around them.
2. The Stewart Tactile Maps: Enhancing Spatial Awareness
O&M professionals often face the challenge of accurately assessing their students' mental mapping skills. How do we test someone's ability to mentally picture the layout of a space without relying on their vision? This is a key question that Dr. Stewart sought to answer when developing the Stewart Tactile Maps.
These tactile maps are a series of raised-line maps created on a solid perspex base, allowing individuals with visual impairments to "feel" the layout of a space. The maps come in different levels of complexity, enabling O&M specialists to assess a person's ability to replicate each map based on touch alone.
The maps are particularly useful for individuals with congenital blindness, as they can help assess how well they understand the space around them. The Stewart Tactile Maps are now available commercially and can be easily transported, making them an excellent tool for O&M specialists to assess their students wherever they are. Available at an affordable price, these maps provide a way to gather objective data and track progress, giving O&M instructors a reliable way to gauge their students' spatial awareness and planning abilities.
3. Person-Centered Practice: A Holistic Approach to O&M
At the heart of successful O&M instruction lies an important principle: Person-Centered practice. This approach emphasizes the importance of seeing each individual as unique, with their own set of needs, strengths, and preferences. It’s all about recognizing that everyone’s experience with visual impairment is different and, as such, their support should be tailored to meet those specific needs.
In practice, Person-Centered O&M means listening closely to each student, not making assumptions about their abilities, and fostering a deep respect for their autonomy. By focusing on the person in front of you, O&M specialists can help individuals build confidence, set goals, and take ownership of their mobility and independence. This approach is at the core of some of the most innovative advancements in O&M today, such as the beacon technology mentioned earlier, and the Stewart Tactile Maps. These resources support Person-Centered practice by providing tools that can be customized to meet the individual needs of each client.
Making a Difference: Moving Forward with Innovations
These innovations are reshaping the way O&M specialists help people with visual impairments navigate the world. From beacon technology to tactile mapping systems, the potential for increasing independence and accessibility has never been greater.
One thing is clear: O&M professionals must continue to embrace new technologies and approaches, all while maintaining a deep respect for the unique abilities and needs of each individual they serve. By implementing tools like beacon technology, Stewart Tactile Maps, and adopting a Person-Centered approach, we can create a more inclusive and empowering environment for people with visual impairments.
As O&M professionals, we are not just teaching our students how to navigate physical spaces—we’re helping them build the confidence to take on the world. It’s an exciting time for the field, and the future holds even greater possibilities for enhancing the independence and mobility of individuals with visual impairments.
Take Action Today: Explore the Resources Available
If you're an O&M specialist looking to enhance your practice, consider checking out the resources mentioned in this blog:
- Beacon Technology: Look into beacon installation solutions for public spaces to make them more accessible.
- Stewart Tactile Maps: Order your set of maps to incorporate into your assessments. They are available at Lil Deverell's website (LilDeverell.net) and provide a reliable and objective way to assess mental mapping skills.
- Person-Centered Practice: Embrace the principles of Person-Centered practice by taking a deeper look at each student’s individual needs and strengths, tailoring your instruction accordingly.
These tools and approaches will help you take the next step in supporting your students on their journey toward greater independence.
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