Course content

Target group

The course is primarily aimed at individuals who wish to acquire formal expertise in visual impairment for work in the education sector.

Course content

The course covers training and facilitation to enable children, young people, and adults with visual impairments to navigate their surroundings as safely and independently as possible. Students receive a thorough introduction to various mobility techniques, guiding techniques, and the use of mobility aids. Another main topic is how students can plan, implement, and evaluate route training.

Key topics in the course:

• Mobility techniques and compensatory strategies

• Planning, implementation, and evaluation of route training

• Auditory perception in orientation and movement

• Physical facilitation at the individual and societal level

• Orientation and mobility aids

Independence and inclusive practices are recurring themes throughout the course. The course also addresses topics related to facilitation for individuals with complex needs.

Learning outcome

Knowledge - The student has

• knowledge of assessing activities and interests
• knowledge of mobility and guiding techniques
• knowledge of creating and describing mobility routes
• knowledge of various mobility aids
• knowledge of using tactile maps

Skills - The student can

• analyze activities and prioritize training goals
• demonstrate and instruct common guiding techniques, protective techniques, cane techniques, and orientation techniques
• walk a mobility route with simulated visual impairment
• provide guidance in the selection of aids
• use tactile maps and justify solutions based on theories of spatial perception

General competence - The student can

• apply their knowledge and skills in orientation and movement to plan and conduct mobility training for people with visual impairments of all ages, and with various cognitive and motor abilities
• evaluate learning progressions in route training in light of theory
• analyze theories and methods and work independently to plan and conduct route training

Learning methods and activities

Online activities and written assignments.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Passed exam in PED6690 Introduction to Visual Impairment Education.

Course materials

See reading list (approx. 900 pages).