Orientation and Mobility is the process of knowing where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there safely, efficiently, gracefully, and independently. Modern society depends heavily on the use of visual cues to make orientation and mobility happen successfully for its fully sighted members.

Without good vision, however, one may not be able to make efficient use of public resources such as community signage or transportation options to find out where things are, and how to get to them conveniently. Barriers spring up between blind people and public resources. With little or no vision it is more challenging to know what is in the surrounding environment and how to interact with that environment gracefully, safely and productively.

For blind children, sports and recreational activities may pose particular challenges or hazards, which may, in turn, interfere with social development. If orientation and mobility skills remain poor, blind children may not be able to interact successfully with their sighted peers, and may find themselves with little companionship.

For blind adults, lack of vision may interfere generally with one's capacity to conduct all the normal activities of living such as grocery shopping, managing a household, holding down a fulfilling job, supporting a family and running the many daily errands that make the world go round for all of us. Studies have shown that good orientation and mobility skills lead to positive attitudes about oneself, to improved recreational and social involvement and to gainful employment.

At Blind Children's Learning Center, we help children and youth master their environment despite lack of vision through special instruction in orientation and mobility. Our students become able to interact with the environment and manage their lives gracefully, productively and safely.

For very young children, we concentrate on use of the cane, hearing and visual skills for walking safely. As children get older, we turn our attention to recreational activities such as ball play, playground management, and running and having a good time. We bring children and youth out into the community to do street crossings, go shopping, and generally participate in all the opportunities that the world has to offer.

We work with families and other professionals to demonstrate that blindness need not limit one's ability to be successful. Positive or negative attitudes at home can make or break the student's ability to be successful. With the right encouragement, attitude, and skills, blind children can participate actively and successfully in typical child and adult activities and contribute amply to society as a whole. Life can then take on the full excitement and luster that it might afford any sighted person.