Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists provide the necessary instruction to children and adults who are blind or visually impaired for safe, independent travel. The Vision Studies Hybrid Program provides graduate students with competencies necessary to teach individuals who are blind or visually impaired from early childhood through adulthood. Training includes integrating skills such as orientation in space with the appropriate selection and use of mobility devices and/or optical devices for
utilization of residual vision.
Graduates are eligible for national certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP). With this certification, the graduate is qualified to provide O&M services in public schools, rehabilitation agencies, Veteran's Administration hospitals, and other programs for individuals with visual impairment and blindness.
In this O&M certification program, there are two ways to become O&M certified. If you are already certified in a vision related field of study (e.g., teacher of the visually impaired), then you need only complete the O&M courses listed on the suggested plan of study.
If you do not possess certification in a vision related field of study, then you must complete the O&M courses listed on the suggested plan of study, plus the Required Vision Courses.
Students completing academic and clinical requirements of the O&M curricula must also pass a national certification in O&M (see the ACVREP website for details) in order to become eligible for O&M certification.
This certificate qualifies the individual to provide educational and rehabilitation services needed by children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. These services include:
- Assessing and evaluating O&M strengths and needs including O&M functional vision assessment
- Recommending appropriate service delivery plans
- Providing training in the use of mobility materials and devices (e.g. prescriptive cane, optical and non-optical devices, dog guide, and electronic devices)
- Consulting with other education and rehabilitation personnel and family regarding the impact of blindness and visual impairment on the O&M process
- Direct instruction in:
- Utilization of mobility devices
- Gross motor development
- Visual efficiency skills
- Concept and sensory development
- Utilization of residual vision
- Spatial orientation
- Instruction in travel in both indoor and outdoor environments
- Utilization of mass transportation systems
- Communication and social skills
- Self-determination skills
- Utilization of tactile, visual, and auditory maps
- Familiarization to familiar and unfamiliar environments
The O&M certification program combines both web-based and campus-based coursework in the summer terms only. Courses begin in mid-May and end late July/early August. During the first two summers, students complete O&M coursework (possibly concurrent with TVI courses) on-line (mid-May through June) as well as on-campus (Summer Session II). The five week Summer on-campus experience is a full-time five-day-a-week commitment. A 10-12 week, 350-clockhour O&M Internship is scheduled
at the completion of the two summers of O&M coursework. The completion of coursework for this single certification program takes approximately two and one-half years.
Contact Information
Lynn Fox
EMAIL: alderson@pitt.edu
PHONE: 412-648-7308
Admission Inquiries and Application Materials should be directed to:
School of Education Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management
5500 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
PHONE: 412-648-2230
FAX: 412-648-1899
EMAIL: soeinfo@pitt.edu
ONLINE (preferred): Inquiry Form
APPLICATION: Admissions Application
