The Possibilities for Using K-Sonar
with Individuals who are Deaf-Blind
Tessa McCarthy
North Carolina Central University
Jill K. Bohlen
Lincoln Public Schools
The two most popular mobility tools for individuals
who are blind and visually impaired (VI) are
canes and dog guides (Marston & Golledge,
2003). In addition to canes and dog guides, there
are also a wide variety of electronic travel aids
(ETA) which provide haptic or auditory feedback
to students. Some of these devices are meant to
be used as stand-alone devices; some of the devices are intended for use in conjunction with a
cane or dog guide (Pun, Roth, Bologna, Moustakas, & Tzovaras, 2007). The K-Sonar is a device
which uses sonocular perception to provide the
user with increased information about his/her environment based on echolocation. This information includes object detection, distance from detected objects, and information about the makeup
and texture of detected objects (Kay, n.d., Pun et
al., 2007, Rotengen, Gelederblom, Soede, & de
Witte, 2008).
The documentation which accompanies the KSonar when it is purchased from the American
Printing House for the Blind (APH) specifically
says that it is only for use by individuals with typical hearing. However, advancements in cochlear
33
