The manual explains and illustrates techniques for orientation and mobility instruction for blind primary age students in the public schools. Techniques are offered for four types of skills: (1) sighted guides (traveling on stairs and through doorways, seating a blind person); (2) protective techniques (following a wall by trailing, lower and…

A series of experiments were conducted to study variables affecting the alignment of blind pedestrians at street intersections. In the first two studies blindfolded sighted students, serving as adventitiously blind people undergoing mobility training, learned one of three strategies: no concrete strategy, tracking, and tracking and compensation.…

Four blind adults were observed to determine the extent of the natural movement of their centers of gravity in relation to arc height during the two-point touch technique for long cane travel. The Ss learned and practiced a modified technique using their center of gravity as much as possible. (Author)

The article describes the development of the Nottingham Obstacle Detector (NOD), an ultrasonic handheld aid designed to help visually handicapped persons detect obstacles as they travel. Results of six mobility tasks are explained to point out definite advantages of NOD. (Author/CL)

Using a theoretical model of walking with the cane, drop off detection in the touch technique was analyzed for usefulness with the visually impaired. Sufficient cane length for detecting curb drop offs was found to be measurable and a chart was generated to enable the practitioner to determine cane length easily. (Author)

The article describes studies of effectiveness of a secondary task as a measure of the blind mobility information processing workload. Secondary task performance is shown to be a useful index of effects of preview and route difficulty, as well as perceptual and cognitive demands of different mobility aids. (Author/CL)

The development of the Sonic Pathfinder, a new electronic travel aid, is described. The aim has been to produce an aid that gives the user useful information for safe, stress-free travel rather than to provide an electronic surrogate for vision. (Author/CL)

The author discusses ways in which miniatures and schematic drawings can help blind persons deal with information provided by sonicguide. (CL)

Measurement of stress in nonvisual travel was attempted with both an electromyograph and a galvonic skin response unit in four travel situations. Results revealed significantly greater stress response when unexpected contact with objects was made than with expected contacts and street crossings. Instructors' intervention also increased stress.…

Use of the Sonicguide, a binaural sensory aid, by a quadraplegic, totally blind 18-year-old student is described. The rationale for training, device adaptations, and the eventual use of the device as a primary mobility aid in areas familiar to the student are explained. (Author/MC)

Two articles discuss the compatibility of the Sonicguide, long cane, and guide dogs in increasing the mobility of visually impaired individuals. (PHR)

Three blind adults were trained in a 7-step structured procedure for asking questions to solicit information concerning the location of businesses they wished to visit. Completeness of information obtained increased dramatically with the use of this procedure. (Author/DB)

To increase the professionalism of mobility instructors for the visually handicapped and to improve practice, the following areas need to be considered: a forum for dialogue and dissemination of information, a central resource for information, public relations materials explaining cane mobility, and a means of identifying the professional. (Author)