Citation

Maplesden C. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2012; 23(3): 45-50.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article will explain the travel skills used by vision impaired pedestrians. It is based on my personal experience working and walking alongside people who are blind or have low vision. My objective is to raise the awareness of other professionals, whose work roles or personal interests provide the opportunity to act on suggestions to improve the safety of all pedestrians, particularly those with a disability. If you were to wake up blind tomorrow from a car accident or have an eye disease severe enough to reduce personal safety, you would be offered assistance from an Orientation and Mobility Instructor like myself, to maintain independent travel. My own training included months of blindfold and low vision simulator travel using a white cane. Trainers of Seeing Eye dogs complete a separate cadetship, and we are usually employed by not-for-profit agencies. Knowing I can remove my blindfold is an important difference between my experiences and those of my students. Instructors work with adults who need to shop, reach their community and commute to work, with children who need skills to attend school, and elderly people who need to remain active and independent.

Keywords

Australia; Education; Safe systems (road users); Pedestrians; Vulnerable road users; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian; Crossing the road; Vulnerable road user; Blindness; Vision disorders; Vision impairment