Orientation and Mobility
Mission Statement
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 one-to-one instruction and professional consultation with classroom teachers, dormitory staff, and families.
About Orientation and Mobility
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 use of human 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. Specialists encourage students to do whatever they can safely do on their own and help them to recognize when they need assistance. By teaching them how to assertively obtain that assistance from family members, school staff, store clerks, and the public, students work toward achieving their travel-related goals.
Orientation and Mobility Specialists at CSB
- Kristi Barrella kbarrella@csb-cde.ca.gov 510-936-5572
- Jim Blackshear jblackshear@csb-cde.ca.gov 510-936-5570
- Stacey Colley scolley@csb-cde.ca.gov 510-936-5568
- Erica Hogle ehogle@csb-cde.ca.gov 510-936-5574
- Katie Smith ksmith@csb-cde.ca.gov 510-936-5566
- Laura Suth lsuth@csb-cde.ca.gov 510-936-5571
Events
- White Cane Day
If you are planning to visit us on White Cane Day, please fill out the White Cane Day Visitor Form(Google Form) by Friday, Septermber 29th in order to be guaranteed a free lunch and a chance to order t-shirts. Fill out the T-Shirt Order Form
(Google Form) to pre-order for a t-shirt.
- Day of Code
Monday, December 4th, from 9:00AM-3:00PM; Lunch provided. - General Tours
Please fill out the Google Form if you are interested in attending any of our General Tour days. General Tours are available on these days:
- Friday, August 25, 2023 from 10:00AM-11:00AM
- Monday, September 18, 2023 from 3:30PM-4:30PM
- Tuesday, October 17 from 1:00PM-2:00PM
- Summer Academies
Starting June 12th, 19th, and 26th, 2023 - Registration Forms