VIDBE-Q Volume 68 Issue 2
51
● When comparing the young adult travelers with the older adults as a group,
the youth were much faster travelers on their routes; however. their ratings
on the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction scale were much lower than those
of the adult travelers.
Recommendations
For practitioners and family members of students with visual impairments, there
is a need to integrate technology and universally designed teaching materials into
transition and community-based learning experiences.
● The opportunity to go "outside" of one's comfort zone while using no-tech
or high-tech technology is an important experience for young adults who are
blind, DeafBlind. or have low vision. Both appear to be useful in building
competence and confidence in navigating in complex environments.
● Environmental literacy, comfort with technological tools, orientation and
mobility, self-determination, and self-advocacy are vital skills that require
direct instruction and practice for students with visual impairments and
deafblindness.
● Facilitating opportunities and experiences requires thoughtful collaboration
and partnership. Youth are a part of this partnership!
● O&M experiences that integrate direct experiences with wayfinding tools in
college settings should be further investigated for increasing competence and
