Orientation and Mobility Stand Alone Certificate
The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Certificate provides learners with the knowledge and skill competencies recognized by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) to promote the safe and efficient travel skills of individuals who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind. O&M Specialists provide individualized assessment, and instruction to individuals with visual impairment based upon an individual’s needs, strengths, preferences and goals within settings that are important to the individual with visual impairment. The O&M Stand Alone certificate at PSU is a program of study for those who are not working as teachers of the visually impaired but who wish to provide O&M services in rehabilitation, community, or other educational settings.
Requirements
Courses
| SpEd 540 | Foundations of Education for the Visually Impaired Learner | 3 |
| SpEd 541 | Implications of Vision Problems of Children/Youth | 3 |
| SpEd 545 | Introduction to Orientation and Mobility and Independent Living Skills | 3 |
| SpEd 549 | Orientation and Mobility Methods | 3 |
| SpEd 550 | Orientation and Mobility Assessment and Instruction - Children | 3 |
| SpEd 551 | Orientation and Mobility Assessment and Instruction - Adults | 3 |
| SpEd 552 | Orientation and Mobility Advanced Techniques | 4 |
| SpEd 509 | STE I Orientation and Mobility Practicum | 3 |
| SpEd 509 | STE II Orientation and Mobility Practicum | 3 |
| SpEd 509 | STE III Orientation and Mobility Practicum | 3 |
| SpEd 509 | STE IV Orientation and Mobility Practicum | 3 |
The following course is recommended but not required. It may be taken as an elective for a Master's degree.
| SpEd 576 | Visually Impaired Learner with Additional Disabilities | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 34
All students complete 12 credits of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) practicum which is equal to 400 hours of clinical O&M experience that align with ACVREP requirements. O&M practicum credits are variable and may be taken in 3-12 credit increments across multiple terms depending upon the practicum placement hours and the availability of a supervising Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). The O&M Program Coordinator works with students to arrange practicum placements based on geography, student interests, and availability of clinical partners within educational, rehabilitation and community settings. Student are eligible to sit for the national certifying exam for Orientation and Mobility Specialists upon the completion of coursework and the submission of the appropriate documentation to ACVREP.