The Art and Science of Teaching Orientation and Mobility (2013 Edition) - made Screen Readable for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons by Professor T K Bansal.

IN THIS CHAPTER we'll be discussing the following topics:

• Who Should Use a Long Cane?
• INTRODUCTION TO The Long Cane
• Human Guide Technique with a Long Cane
• The Diagonal Cane Technique
• Self-Familiarization Skills: The Room-Familiarization Procedure
• The Art of Teaching: Considerations in Teaching Diagonal Cane Techniques

Note: Throughout this chapter, the propositions, LIKE, He, his and him, refer to the Student; whereas, the propositions like, she and her, refer to the specialist.

The long cane is the most frequently used mode of travel for persons with visual impairments, who travel without the assistance of another person. After learning to use the long cane and familiarizing themselves with various environments, students will be able to travel independently in a wide variety of situations and will, in all likelihood, use the cane in most travel situations in the future. This chapter explains how the student begins this process by continuing with the orientation and mobility (O&M) learning sequence (see Sidebar 1.1) to learn the diagonal cane technique and how to become familiar with an unfamiliar room.