Orientation and Mobility: Special Education
Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential
About this program
The Orientation and Mobility Credential: Special Education prepares you to teach safe and independent navigation skills to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, from birth through adulthood. You learn essential movement techniques—from using a long cane and developing spatial concepts to traveling on public transport and navigating new environments. Courses blend theory with practice. You also complete a full two‑semester sequence of supervised clinical fieldwork and student teaching in varied real‑world settings.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
The Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential qualifies graduates to work as Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists. This credential authorizes the holder to teach orientation and mobility techniques to individuals who are visually impaired or blind from infancy through adulthood. Specialists for the visually impaired teach orientation skills, such as using landmarks and sensory cues, familiarizing oneself with the environment, and guiding oneself towards a destination. Orientation and Mobility specialists teach mobility skills for route travel, street crossings, and use of public transportation. Instruction may take place outdoors and indoors in homes and public buildings. When appropriate, lessons in cane technique and maximum use of residual vision may also be taught to ensure safe and efficient travel.