The AER accredited Master of Arts in Rehabilitation for the Blind: Orientation and Mobility program teaches a system for:
- Establishing and maintaining awareness of one’s position in the environment (orientation)
- Fostering freedom and spontaneity of movement (mobility)
Students learn how to teach blind and low-vision people to overcome severe problems of mobility and equip them to travel safely, efficiently, and confidently. Orientation and mobility specialists provide people with skills to process their environment and make decisions for independent travel, while using their remaining vision, long canes, or dog guides.
Summer Sessions
Most of our classes are available online. However, you must come to Little Rock for two consecutive summers to take blindfold simulation classes and for student teaching. Summer classes are usually held the last three weeks in June. Students receive free room and some meals either at the Arkansas School for the Blind or at World Services for the Blind, where classes are held. In exchange for the living accommodations, they must agree to assist in light recreational duties (or student teaching responsibilities) with the children at the school.
About Our Instruction
Instruction in sensory and movement skills is based on an evaluation of needs and abilities of prospective clients. Instruction is provided in the use of adaptive equipment such as long canes, telescopes, and electronic travel and orientation aids. Students also learn how to teach consumers with dog guides relevant orientation skills.
Graduate Certificate
Orientation and Mobility of the Blind Graduate Certificate If you want to qualify to apply for national certification in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) without seeking the master’s degree in O&M, you may enroll in the AER accredited graduate certificate program.
Mission, Goals and Objectives
The mission of the Rehabilitation for the Blind: Orientation and Mobility program at UA Little Rock is to educate and train individuals to become orientation and mobility specialists. This mission is accomplished through the following goals and objectives:
Goal 1
Assessment Procedures: Students will demonstrate through the course work, practicum, and internship experiences the ability to use appropriate assessment instruments and procedures to evaluate clients’ current level of functioning in the areas of concept development, sensorimotor skills, posture and gait, and travel abilities.
Goal 2
Cognitive knowledge of Orientation and Mobility skills: Students will demonstrate through the course work, practicum, and internship experiences the knowledge of the appropriate skills necessary for traveling with impaired vision and/or with additional disabilities.
Goal 3
Cognitive knowledge of Orientation and Mobility skills: Students will demonstrate through the course work, practicum, and internship experiences the knowledge of the appropriate skills necessary for traveling with impaired vision and/or with additional disabilities.
Goal 4
Monitoring of clients: Students will demonstrate the ability to monitor their clients’ independent travel skills (including acquisition of orientation and mobility techniques and safety procedures) by successfully attaining the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) orientation and mobility competencies during their practicum and internship experiences.
Goal 5
Human Growth and Development: Students will demonstrate the ability through course work, practicum, and internship experiences to recognize the psychosocial, medical, and cultural needs of each client as they relate to his or her individual education/rehabilitation plans.
Goal 6
History and Philosophy of Orientation and Mobility: Students will demonstrate through course work an understanding of the history of the profession as it relates to current critical issues, the orientation and mobility code of ethics, certification of mobility instructors, and implementation of orientation and mobility services.
The key elements in the goals above relate to three fundamental objectives:
Objective 1: Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to assess the level of acquired orientation and mobility skills and to evaluate those skills over time in their clients with visual impairments.
Objective 2: Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to develop and teach orientation and mobility skills through appropriately sequenced lessons for their clients with visual impairments.
Objective 3: Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to monitor their client’s safety when traveling through various environments.
In the last five years as required by Higher Education Accreditation Commission (HEAC) and The Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually impaired Counsel (AERAC) we have had 18 students enter the program with 10 graduated, 8 in different phases of their program of study, and several new admission for the Fall of 2024. 100% of students accepted to the program remain in the program. 100% of graduates in the past five years are employed in the field of serving people who are blind or visually impaired.
