Orientation and Mobility: Tips for Getting Around when Blind or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)

Orientation and Mobility instructor shows a woman how to use her white cane — Learning to use the white
cane with an O&M instructor

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) is a profession specific to blindness and low vision that teaches safe, efficient, and effective travel skills to people of all ages:

“Orientation” refers to knowing where you are and where you want to go, whether you’re moving from one room to another or walking downtown for a shopping trip.
“Mobility” refers to the ability to move safely, efficiently, and effectively from one place to another, such as walking without tripping or falling, crossing streets, and using public transportation.

Orientation and Mobility: Navigating Your Environment with Confidence

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Orientation is knowing where one is in space and how to safely get from point A to point B. Independently orienting when one is blind or has low vision can present a variety of challenges. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills, which help individuals navigate their environments using non-visual […]

Person holding their arm extended in front of their face finds an open cabinet door

Body Protection Techniques to Avoid Injury When Blind/ Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)When navigating various environments, people who are blind or visually impaired face unique challenges that can increase the risk of injury. However, using a white cane in addition to proper body protection techniques can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents. These techniques, which involve positioning your arms and […]

Transportation

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Traveling when blind or low vision can have its share of adventures. Check out the articles in this section to learn about using ride-share and public transportation, including trains, busses, and air travel.

Walking with a Human or Dog Guide

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)When walking indoors or outdoors, individuals who are blind or have low vision may choose to use the assistance of a guide, whether it’s a human or a guide dog. While friends or family members may instinctively offer help in ways that feel natural, such as holding hands […]

Driving

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Can a person drive with low vision? Learn about driving safety and bioptic driving, including bioptic driving rules and regulations.

Cane Travel when Blind or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Learning to use a cane is a vital skill for individuals with low vision or blindness. But what type of cane should you use? Should you opt for a white cane if you have low vision? And what are white cane laws? This article answers these questions and […]

Individual wearing hearing aids walks outdoors

Traveling with Combined Hearing and Vision Loss

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)I have hearing loss as well as low vision. Can I still learn to travel safely and independently? People who have hearing loss as well as blindness or low vision—and people who are profoundly deaf and totally blind—can travel in their communities, commute to work, and even travel […]