Orientation and Mobility Problems of Adults with Visual Impairment and Suggestions for Solutions

Abstract

This research aims to identify the main problems experienced by adults with visual impairments regarding the use and accessibility of orientation and mobility skills and offer solutions for these problems. For this purpose, the knowledge of individuals with visual impairment on orientation and mobility skills and the problems they experience while using these skills and using public transport were discussed. Additionally, the skills they most need and want to learn, and the environment, people, and teaching style they want when being taught these skills were examined in detail according to the participants’ opinions. In the study, phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. 17 adults participated in the research, which would provide the most diversity for demographic information such as age, gender, and educational status. The research data were collected with the interview form tool consisting of semi-structured questions. The interviews were deciphered and transferred to the MAXQDA program, which is a computer-aided qualitative data analysis program for analysis. The descriptive analysis method was used in the analysis of the obtained data. As a result of the study, it was found that the level of education in orientation and mobility is quite low and they need to be trained. They suffer accidents due to lack of education, architectural/environmental precautions, inadequacy of measures taken for transportation, lack of assistive technology, attitude of people and lack of training of sighted guides. O&M programs can be developed for adults that include various indoor and outdoor routes and using transport.

Keywords

• Visual impairment
• Orientation
• Mobility
• Problems in mobility

Kaynakça

1. Altunay, B. (2000). The effectiveness of the individualised route instruction material provided with physical prompt and verbal clues while the visually impaired students gain mobility along the predetermined routes (Unpublished master thesis). G.U. Institute of Educational Sciences, Ankara.
2. Altunay Arslantekin, B. (2015). The evaluation of visually impaired students’ mobility skills. Education and Science, 40(180), 37-49.
3. Altunay Arslantekin, B. (2017). Evaluation of the level of students with visual impairments in Turkey in terms of the concepts of mobility prerequisites (body plane/traffic). Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 67, 71-85.
4. Altunay Arslantekin, B., & Ekinci, M. (2014, October). Identifying the views of the visually impaired university students on orientation and mobility skills. In Y. İçingür, K. Arıcı, B. Altunay Arslantekin (Eds.), I. International Congress on Problems and Solutions of Employment, Social Security of the Disabled, (pp. 37-52). Ankara: Republic of Turkey Promotion Fund.
5. Ambrose-Zaken, G., Calhoon, C. R., & Keim, J. R. (2010). Teaching orientation and mobility to students with cognitive impairments and vision loss. In W. R. Wiener, R. L. Welsh, & B.B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility (3rded.), (Vol. 2), (pp. 643, 645). New York: AFB Press.
6. Arslantekin, B. (2020). Mobility activity cards: Orientation and mobility skills/for blind and low vision students. Ankara: MEB yayinlari.
7. Arslantekin, B., Buyukozturk, S., Aki, E., & Doganay Bilgi, A. (2016). “Development of Orientation and Mobility Skill Assessment Tool for Visually Impaired Students” (OMSAT/YOBDA) Project, Number 113K557, TUBITAK, Ankara.
8. Atas, S. (2019). The effectiveness of teaching peer-guided walking skills with peer-to-peer coaching method to visually impaired mainstreaming students (Unpublished master thesis). G.U. Institute of Educational Sciences, Ankara.

9. Attia, I., & Asamoah, D. (2020). The white cane. Its effectiveness, challenges and suggestions for effective use: The case of Akropong School for the Blind. Journal of
10. Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 33(3), 47-55. DOI:10.9734/JESBS/2020/v33i330211.
11. Ballemans, J., Kempen, IJM G., & Zijlstra, GA R. (2011). Orientation and mobility training for partially-sighted older adults using an identification cane: A systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation, 25(10), 880–891.
12. Buyukozturk, S., Akgun, O. E., Demirel, F., Karadeniz, S., & Cakmak, E. K. (2012). Scientific research methods. Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
13. Budd, J. M., & La Grow, S. J. (2000). Using a three-dimensional interactive model to teach environmental concepts to visually impaired children. RE:view, 32, 83–94.
14. Cakmak, S. (2011). Efficiency of teaching material for the skill of getting on bus developed for visually disabled people. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 41, 94-111.
15. Campisi, T. Ignaccolo, M., Inturri, G., Tesoriere, G., & Torrisi, V. (2020). Evaluation of walkability and mobility requirements of visually impaired people in urban spaces. Research in Transportation Business & Management (Article in press).
16. Chen, C. C. (2012). Orientation and mobility of the visually impaired in a blind baseball training method. Journal of Physical Education and Sport Management, 3(2), 20-26.
17. Cifcibaşı Iyigun, S., & Tortop, H. S. (2018). Innovative practice in private education innovative and innovative technological vehicle design for visually impaired individuals and effects on life behavior. Journal of Gifted Education and Creativity, 5(2), 31-43.
18. Cmar, J. L. (2015). Orientation and mobility skills and outcome expectations as predictors of employment for young adults with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 109(2), 95-106.
19. Combrinck, F. (2014). The application of tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI’s) on intersections in South Africa, Proceedings of the 33rd Southern African Transport Conference, 535-545.
20. Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry & research design choosing among five approaches. Sage Publications.
21. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Nitel arastirma yontemleri: Bes yaklasima gore nitel arastirma ve arastirma deseni. M. Butun ve S. B. Demir (Cev. Edt.). Ankara: Siyasal Kitapevi.
22. Crudden, A., & McBroom, L.W. (1999). Barriers to employment: A survey of employed persons who are visually impaired. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 1, 341- 350.
23. Cotuk, H., & Altunay Arslantekin, B. (2017). The effectiveness of walking with wall trailing skill on visually impaired children through sibling teaching with simultaneous prompting procedure. Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education, 17(2), 586-607.
24. Dicle, A., & Toprak, T. (2020). Mobility of disabled people in the city: Accessibility studies in Kadıköy and Üsküdar districts. Istanbul Commerce University Journal of Tecnologies and Applied Sciences, 3(1), 81-94.
25. Erdoğan, M. (2016, May). Urbanization of the disabled: Canakkale case (Engellilerin kentlilesmesi: Canakkale ornegi). Kentlilik Bilinci ve Kulturu Sempozyumu, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331839276_ENGELLILERIN_KENTLILESMESI_CANAKKALE_ORNEGI/link/5c8f9d6445851564fae63336/download.
26. Gardiner, A., & Perkins, C. (2005). “It’s a sort of echo. . .”: Sensory perception of the environment as an aid to tactile map design. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 23, 84– 91.
27. Golledge, R.G., Marston, J.R., & Costanzo, C.M. (1997). Attitudes of visually impaired persons toward the use of public transportation. Journal of Visual Impairment&Blindness, 191, 5, 446-459.
28. Glanzman, A., & Ducret, W. (2003). Interdisciplinary collaboration in the choice of an adapted mobility device for a child with cerebral palsy and visual impairment, JVIB 93(1), 38-41.
29. Gorme Engelliler Yonelim ve Bagimsiz Hareket Egitmeni (Level 5) Ulusal Meslek Standardi. [National Vocational Standard for the Visually Impaired Orientation and Mobility Trainer] The Official Gazette 28784, 3 October 2013.
30. Griffin-Shirley, N., Pogrund, R.L., Smith, D.W., & Duemer, L. (2009). A three-phase qualitative study of dual-certified vision education professionals in the Southwestern United States. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103, 354-366.
31. Higgerty, M. J., & Williams, A. C. (2005). Orientation and mobility training using small groups. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 99(12), 755-764.
32. Hill, E. W., & Ponder, P. (1976). Orientation and mobility techniques. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
33. Islek, Ö. (2020). Extended curriculum for students with visual impairment. P. Pistav Akmese & B. Altunay (Eds), in Children with hearing and visual impairments and their education. Ankara: Nobel Academic Publishing.
34. Kanyilmaz Polat, E., Bacak, B., & Kiroglu, F. (2020). Visually impaired people in the working life: Example of Canakkale. Journal of Social Policy Studies, 20(49), 917-960.
35. Kaplan, H. (2013, April). Bagimsiz hareket icin yapili cevrede duzenlemeler (Arrangements in the built environment for mobility. In B. Altunay Arslantekin (Ed.), Mobility-White Cane Panel/Workshop (pp. 27-44). Ankara: Ministry of Family and Social Policies Publication. T.C. Aile ve Sosyal Politikalar Bakanligi Yayini.
36. Koutsoklenis, A., & Papadopoulos, K. (2011). Olfactory cues used for wayfinding in urban environments by individuals with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 692-702.
37. Lahav, O., & Mioduser, D. (2002). Multisensory virtual environment for supporting blind persons’ acquisition of spatial cognitive mapping, orientation, and mobility skills. Retrieved from http://www.icdvrat.rdg.ac.uk.
38. Lloyd, J.K.F., Grow La G., Stafford, K.J., & Budge, R.C. (2008). The guide dog as a mobility aid part 1: Perceived effectiveness on travel performance. International Journal of Orientation & Mobility, 1, 1, 17-33.
39. Loomis, J. M., Golledge, R. G., Klatzky, R. L., & Marston, J. R. (2007). Assisting wayfinding in visually impaired travelers. In G. L. Allen (Ed.), Applied spatial cognition: From research to cognitive technology (p. 179–202).
40. Low, W. Y., Cao, M., Vos De J., & Hickman, R. (2020). The journey experience of visually impaired people on public transport in London. Transport Policy 97, 137–148.
41. Malik, S., Abd Manaf, U. K., Ahmad, N. A., & Ismail, M. (2018). Orientation and Mobility Training in special education curriculum for social adjustment problems of visually impaired children in Pakistan. International Journal of Instruction, 11(2), 185-202.
42. McKenzie, A.R., & Lewis, S. (2008). The role and training of paraprofessionals who work with students who are visually impaired. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 459-471.
43. Miller, R. L., & Brewer, J. D. (Eds.). (2003). The AZ of social research. Londan: Sage.
44. Mizuno, T. Nishidate, A., Tokuda, K., & Arai, K. (2008). Installation errors and corrections in tactile ground surface indicators in Europe, America, Oceania and Asia. IATSS Research, 32(2), 68-80.
45. Odabas Uslu, A., & Gunes, M. (2017). Engelsiz kentler-Herkes icin erisilebilir kentler (Barrier-free cities- Accesible cities for all). International Journal of Landscape Architecture Research, 1(2): 30-36.
46. Ozel Egitim Hizmetleri Yonetmeligi. T.C. Resmi Gazete (30471), 2 Temmuz 2018. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2018/07/20180707-8.htm.
47. Ozteke Kozan, H.I., Bozgeyikli, H., & Kesici, S. (2018). Unimpaired city: Problems of visually impaired people in city life. Idealkent23(9), 216-235.
48. Padzi, P.A., & Ibrahim, F. (2012). Accessibility of visually impaired passengers at urban railway stations in the Klang Valley. International Transaction Journal of Engineering, Management, & Applied Sciences & Technologies, 277-292.
49. Pavey, S., Dodgson, A., Douglas, G., & Clements, B. (2009). Travel, transport, and mobility of people who are blind and partially sighted in the UK. Final report for the RNIB, University of Birmingham.
50. Pembuain, A., Priyanto, S., & Suparma, L.B. (2020). The evaluation of tactile ground surface indicator condition and effectiveness on the sidewalk in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. IATSS Research 44, 1-7.
51. Perla, F., & O’Donnell, B. (2004). Encouraging problem solving in orientation and mobility. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 98(1), 47-52.
52. Pogrund, R., Healy, G., Jones, K., Levack, Martin-Curry, N., Martinez, Marz, C., Roberson-Smith, B. and Vrba, A. (1998). Teaching age-appropriate purposeful skills: An orientation & mobility curriculum for students with visual impairments (2nd Ed). Texas: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
53. Riazi, A., Riazi, F., Yoosfi, R., & Bahmeei, F. (2016). Outdoor difficulties experienced by a group of visually impaired Iranian people. Journal of Current Ophthalmology, 28(2), 85-90.
54. Ramadhan, A.J. (2018). Wearable smart system for visually impaired people. Sensors, 18, 843, 1-13.
55. Regal, G., Mattheiss, E., Sellitsch, & Tscheligi, M. (2018). Mobile location-based games to support orientation & mobility training for visually impaired students. The 20th International Conference, 47, 1-12.
56. Rodgers, M. D., & Emerson, R. W. (2005). Materials testing in long cane design: Sensivity, flexibility, and transmission of vibration, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 99, 696- 706.
57. Rudiyati, S. (2014). Improving skills of candidate teachers of children with visual impairment as sighted guide. DIJE, 2, 24-33.
58. Scott, A. C., Barlow, J.M., Guth, D. A., Bentzen, B. L., Cunningham, C.M., & Long, R. (2011). Walking between the lines: Nonvisual cues for maintaining headings during street crossings. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 662- 674.
59. Shimuzi, M. (2009). A survey of daily trips of persons who are visually impaired living in communities in Japan. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 766-772.
60. Sobnath, D., Rehman, I.U., & Nasralla, M.M. (2020) Smart cities to improve mobility and quality of life of the visually impaired. In: Paiva S. (Eds.) Technological trends in improved mobility of the visually impaired. EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. Springer, Cham. https://pure.solent.ac.uk/ws/files/11174278/Book_Chapter_Final_PDF2.pdf
61. Safak, P., Altunay B., & Once, G. (1997). The visually impaired child and the city. 7. Ulusal Ozel Egitim Kongresi, Eskisehir.
62. Tellevik, J.M, Martinsen, H., Storlilokken, M., & Elmerskog, B. (2000). Development and evaluation of a procedure to assess mobility route learning. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, April, 197-203.
63. Treuillet, S., & Royer, E. (2010). Outdoor/indoor vision based localization for blind pedestrian navigation assistance. International Journal of Image and Graphics, World Scientific Publishing, pp.481-496.
64. Tuncer, T. (2004). Görme yetersizliğinden etkilenen çocuklar [Children affected by visual impairment]. In A. Ataman (Ed.), Ozel gereksinimli cocuklar ve ozel egitime giriş Children with special needs and introduction to special education) (1 st ed.). (pp. 293-311). Ankara: Gunduz Egitim ve Yayincilik.
65. Vanderpuye, I. Attia, I., Amoako, R. Fofie, D., & Asamoah, D. (2020). Assessment of students’ skills in protective and sighted guide techniques: Evidence from schools for the blind in Ghana. European Journal of Special Education Research, 6(2), 130-146.
66. Wolffe, K.E., Sacks, S.Z., Corn, A.L., Erin, J.N., Huebner, K.M., & Lewis, S. (2002). Teachers of students with visual impairments: What are they teaching? Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, May, 293-304.
67. Yalcin, G., & Altunay Arslantekin, B. (2019). Expanded core curriculum and listening skills for students with visual impairment, Aksaray University Journal of Institute of Social Sciences, 3(2), 298-323.
68. Yildirim, A., & Simsek, H. (2011). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel arastirma yontemleri. Seckin yayincilik.
69. Yilmaz, M., Ersan, M., & Agca, C. (2018). Accessible wayshowing design for visually-disabled people: An example for Ankara Kızılay neighbourhood. The Journal of Academic Social Science, 6(74), 535-544.
70. Yildiz, S., & Gurler, S. (2018). The assessment of information levels of people with visual impairment in terms of their disabled rights- The case of Ankara. Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 8(1), 241-268.
71. Zijlstra, G. A. R., Van Rens, G. H. M. B., Scherder, E. J. A., Brouwer, D. M., Van der Velde, J., Verstraten, P. F. J., et al. (2009). Effects and feasibility of a standardised orientation and mobility training in using an identification cane for older adults with low vision: Design of a randomised trial. BMC Health Services Research, 9, 153.