;
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
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Given the findings of this study, the bigger question that needs to be
studied goes back to the original premise of the "O&M for TVIs" course, which
was that learners with visual impairments needed access to O&M instruction
and there were limited O&M specialists available. This is no longer the case
and current Federal Statute, IDEA Part C (2004) states that O&M begins in
early intervention and names the O&M specialist as the qualified personnel.
This is a clear mandate that the O&M specialist is best equipped to provide
O&M services.
O&M is a discipline separate and apart from TVI. CEC lists
approximately 200 TVI standards and the Academy for Certification of Vision
Rehabilitation and Education Services has an equally long document called
the Orientation and Mobility Body of Knowledge. O&M specialists could be
said to be providing "Skills Practice" in TVI each time they include braille in
their O&M lessons. However, no TVI would expect an O&M specialist to teach
a braille lesson.
In this same way, university preparation programs might look at their
"O&M for TVIs" courses along with state education standards to determine
whether or not their courses are over or under preparing TVIs for the roles
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