O&M courses in Czech Republic

Prague, 10th May 2001

Pavel Wiener, Lenka Svobodova, Petr Cervenka
The Charles University in Prague, Rehabilitation Institute for the Visually Impaired

1. Education and qualification of the O&M instructors:

Prerequisites:

• 5 years of practice in work with visually impaired people
• active knowledge of Braille (reading - by eyes + writing)
• basics of Ophthalmology
• physical and psychical health
• sight as for driving licence

postgraduate study 300 hours of direct work - 2 terms (1 academical year)

• max. 10 participants in course - 1/2 of the participants is blindfolded, another 1/2 is supervising - regular exchanging of roles during the whole course
• organization of the courses: first week - intensive block studying: introduction; 1/2 of group of the participants starts with the blindfolds (dressing, washing, breakfast, preparing lunch, washing dishes, playing board games � etc.), another 1/2 is supervising; experience with simulation goggles�etc.; afterwards fortnight's consultations
• first term: techniques of moving without cane (sighted guide, protective methods, finding dropped objects, trailing), O&M elements (angles estimation, distance estimation - 1 m, 5 m, straight walk - 15 m), techniques of white cane, orientation
• second term: practice of teaching O&M (including video - analysis)
• study journey: 1 week in countries in Europe (Belgium, Holland, Germany) - gives possibility to exchange information and to practise O&M in different environment
• examination contents a theoretical - theory of Orientation and Mobility in 30 questions (lasts 1,5 hour, 3 points per 1 question, participant can not take a practical part, if he/she gets 0 from any question) - and the practical part -preparation and performance of the route (present at examination are the real blind people members of the examining commission)

the first certificate is valid for 3 years, certificate is unsigned by the dean of the faculty

verification after 3-rd year of teaching O&M

• theory of Orientation and Mobility (with the same rules like above)
• test on Ophthalmology
• teaching of O&M elements: performance, fulfilling of the teaching goals
• a practical part (the same as above)
• assessment:
• "good" - certificate for the next 3 years
• "excellent" - certificate is unlimited, but if there will be any kind of complaints, an instructor will be asked to take an examination

2. Education and qualification of the teachers of the O&M instructors

• master degree
• verification with assessment �excellent"
• at minimum 5 years of the O&M instructor practice
• very good pedagogical and organizational skills
• co-operation in instructors course leading under supervision (2 terms -1 academical year)

3. Costs

Because of the recognition of the Rehabilitation Institute for the Visually Impaired by the state, participants do not pay for the course. They pay for meals and accommodation (usually paid by employer of the participant). Participants themselves pay for devices (white cane, blindfolds) and expanses connected to study journey.

4. Qualified instructors

• Since 1993 - qualified 56 O&M (average 9 instructors per year)
• verification have passed 17 O&M instructors, from this number 7 with assessment �excellent"
• 2 teachers of O&M instructors, 1 in study

5. Further education

There are obligatory seminars for O&M instructors twice a year at our Institute, including actual information (Fe. conferences, meetings, visits, recent changes in law connected to the care of impaired people, new researches, new help-devices, �etc.). Seminar gives to anybody a possibility to discuss certain problems. Instructors send beforehand the topics they would like to be discussed.

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