Orientation & Mobility
Orientation and Mobility services at the California School
for the Blind prepare students for responsible travel in the community
to their safest level of independence. Services are tailored to meet the
assessed needs of the individual student, and are provided through direct
instruction and professional consultation with classroom teachers, dormitory
staff, and families.
A wide variety of O&M concepts and skills are taught
at CSB. Orientation activities include the development of body image and
the teaching of useful spatial and environmental concepts. Mobility activities
combine a student's emerging orientation skills with sighted guide and
protective techniques, indoor route travel in classroom, dormitory, and
home settings, instruction with the long cane and/or low vision devices,
and outdoor travel on campus and in the community. O&M and related
skills such as time, money, shopping, communication and social skills
are combined in exciting ways both in individual and group travel to build
confidence and enable students to participate as fully as possible in
community activities with their schoolmates and families.
CSB's O&M program stresses the concept of responsible
travel, encouraging students to do whatever they can safely do on their
own, but helping them to recognize when they need assistance, and teaching
them how to assertively obtain that assistance from family members, school
staff, store clerks, and the public to achieve their travel-related goals.
Curriculum Guides
Finding Your Way - BrailleNote GPS 4.2
GPS Curriuculm 'Finding Your Way' with Summary Sheets (Ready to Print)
Finding Your Way - BrailleNote GPS 3.5
PowerPoint Presentations
Orientation and Mobility Specialists at CSB
Kristi Barrella received her O&M degree from San Francisco State University in 2004. She works half time in the O&M department. Kristi is our main contact to the apartment living program, where students are highly reliant on their O&M skills. If you have questions for Kristi you can contact her at kbarrella@csb-cde.ca.gov.
Cheryl Besden received her O&M degree from Boston College in 1976. She received the Northern California Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired award for Teacher of the Year in 2004. She was instrumental in the development of the “Paws for Cause” curriculum, which is a pilot program in partnership with Guide Dogs. If you have questions for Cheryl you can contact her at cbesden@csb-cde.ca.gov.
Cheryl recently published teh article “Design and Implementation of an Orientation and Mobility Program for a Young Woman with Multiple Disabilities” in the special issue on multiple disabilities of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, October 2007.
Nita Crow received her O&M degree from San Francisco State University in 1980. She has been working on a social skills curriculum to be published by The American Printing House for the Blind. If you have questions for Nita you can contact her at ncrow@csb-cde.ca.gov.
Maya Delgado Greenberg received her O&M degree from San Francisco State University and a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas. She works with our preschool and elementary students. Maya has co-authored two CSB curricula, one about student safety skills and another about using BrailleNote GPS. She has been working on a chapter about O&M related listening skills for a book to be published by the American Foundation for the Blind. If you have questions for Maya you can contact her at mgreenberg@csb-cde.ca.gov.
Gerri Finkelstein-Lurya received her O&M degree from San Francisco State University in 1980. Gerri has a particular interest in mentoring student teachers and interns. She has been our link to students who are visually impaired at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. If you have questions for Gerri you can contact her at gfinkelstein@csb-cde.ca.gov.
Gary Shrieves received his O&M degree from California State University, Los Angeles in 1981. He has been an occasional contributor to professional conferences and publications, most recently on the topic of mobility and self-esteem. If you have questions for Gary you van contact him at gshrieves@csb-cde.ca.gov.
Marcia Vickroy received her O&M degree from San Francisco State University in 2004. Marcia has worked with the TechBridge group, bringing technology to blind and visually impaired students in fun, innovative ways. She conceived the Gilly Program, using a change of career dog guide for student learning. If you have questions for Marcia you can contact her at mvickroy@csb-cde.ca.gov.
If you would like to contact one of our orientation and mobility specialists by phone please call (510) 794-3800. If you have an question related to orientation and mobility please e-mail askcsb@csb-cde.ca.gov, more information about this service can be found from the homepage.
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