AMC2010 - Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

AMC2010
The 4th Australasian Orientation & Mobility Conference:
A Conference for the Professional Development of Orientation and Mobility Specialists
Hosted and sponsored by
24 to 26 November 2010
Sydney, Australia
1

The Women’s College, University of Sydney
Key
AL – Accessible Lift
AT – Accessible Toilet
CTR – Courtyard Tutorial
Room
E – Main Entry
FCR – Fairfax Common
Room
FMR – Fairfax Meeting
Room
FT – Female Toilet
L – Library
MZCR – Menzies Common
Room
MC – Menzies Courtyard
MCR – Main Common
Room
MF – Main Foyer
MT – Male Toilet
O – AMC2010 Office in the
Courtyard Meeting Room
R – Reception for The
Women’s College
2

Table of Contents
Page
The Women’s College Map 2
AMC2010 Information
& Assistance 3
Acknowledgements 3
Welcome from the:
Chief Executive Officer 4
Conference Convenor 4
About AMC2010 5
The Venue 5
Conference Program:
Social Events and Things to see & do 12
Wednesday 24 November 2010 15
Thursday 25 November 2010 18
Friday 26 November 2010 22
Orientation & Mobility Association of
Australasia (OMAA) AGM 23
Summaries of AMC2010
Presentations 31
AMC2010 Sponsors, Supporters
and Exhibitors 31
Accessibility 5
Registration 6
Conference Bags and
Name Tags 6
AMC2010 Proceedings 6
Presenters 6
Session Facilitators 6
Exhibitors’ Displays 6
Continuing Professional
Development/ Education (CPD/CPE) 6
Internet Access 7
Dog Toileting Area 7
Cloakroom 7
ATMs, Currency Exchange
& Post Office 7
Liability 7
Disclaimer 7
Key speaker profiles:
Mr Graeme Innes AM 8
Professor The Hon.
Dr Barry Owen Jones AO 9
Dr John Grigg 10
AMC2010 Information &
Assistance
If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to ask the AMC2010 Committee,
who are wearing royal blue polo shirts. The
“Blue Shirts” will be roving the Conference
rooms and someone will available to assist
you in the AMC2010 Office, located in the
Courtyard Meeting Room.
Directions to the AMC2010 Office: Turn
left upon entering the Main Foyer, continue
until the corridor ends and turn right. The
Courtyard Meeting Room is the second
door on the right (opposite the accessible
toilet). The AMC2010 Office is marked in
blue on the map.
Acknowledgements
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT wishes to thank
all those involved in the organisation and
presentation of AMC2010.
The AMC2010 Committee would like
to thank The Women’s College for
their assistance in organising the 4th
Australasian Orientation and
Mobility Conference.
3

Welcome from
Chief Executive Officer
Wikipedia describes Orientation and
Mobility as a profession which focuses
on instructing individuals who are blind
or visually impaired (sic) with safe and
effective travel through their environment.
It goes on to say that O&M Instructors can
work for schools, government agencies or
do private contracting for their services.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is neither a school,
government agency or private contractor.
Nonetheless, we are a leading provider of
Orientation and Mobility services, and as
host of the 4th Australasian Orientation
and Mobility Conference I welcome all
delegates, particularly those who have
travelled some distance to be here.
Much has happened in the world of
O&M since the last AMC conference in
Perth in 2007. The rapid development
and availability of digital technology and
GPS applications has the potential to
revolutionise the way our clients interact
with their environments, challenging service
providers such as Guide Dogs to review
and refine their training programs.
This conference is an invaluable opportunity
for O&M professionals to share their
ideas and practical experiences, thereby
spreading knowledge and generating
important discussion on how our
profession will meet the future mobility
needs of people with impaired vision.
I hope you find the conference stimulating
and that you will return safely to your
homes with fresh insights and new friends.
Graeme White
Chief Executive Officer
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and
Guide Dogs Victoria
4
Welcome from
Conference Convenor
On behalf of the AMC2010 Committee,
I welcome you to the 4th Australasian
Orientation and Mobility Conference.
We hope that while you are here you
will enjoy the many opportunities this
conference brings for continuing education,
meeting friends (old and new) and enjoying
the many experiences of the wonderful city
of Sydney.
I would like to thank Dr John Black, Client
Services Manager, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT, for providing the initial direction
for this conference. His vision was for a
conference that provided opportunity for
professional development and, through a
forum discussion format, opportunity for
interaction and peer-learning.
The hardworking members of the
AMC2010 Committee have turned the
vision into reality and remained patient
through all the preparations. I thank them
wholeheartedly. The skills we gain in our
profession, including being self-motivated,
determined and working together for
a common goal, have been clearly
demonstrated by this group of people.
Finally, I thank the presenters and
workshop leaders who have volunteered
their time and energy, without whom there
would be no conference.
The success of this conference depends
largely on the enthusiastic participation of
all delegates during the interactive forums.
I encourage all delegates to become
involved by asking questions, adding
their own experiences, challenging
assumptions and stimulating friendly
discussion and debate.

Thank you all for coming. I hope that
you enjoy the time you are here and on
leaving this conference, feel rejuvenated
and reinspired in the important role that
you perform.
Matthew Walker
O&M (GD) Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
AMC2010 Conference Convenor
About AMC2010
The 4th Australasian Orientation and
Mobility Conference (AMC2010) is for the
professional development of Orientation
and Mobility specialists, including
Guide Dog specialists, and those with a
professional interest in vision impairment.
AMC2010 is an excellent opportunity for
staff development and we are pleased that
organisations from throughout Australasia
have taken the opportunity to attend and
present ideas and innovations.
Abstract submissions were invited from
people wishing to present at AMC2010,
with abstracts relevant to one of the
following themes:
• Developing your career as an
Orientation & Mobility / Guide Dog
Specialist.
• The relationship between service
provider and user. Social role
valorization.
• Managing challenging training
programs, including innovative program
design, structure and execution.
• Program evaluation.
• One size fits all or does it?
There are five main conference sessions,
each addressing one of the above themes.
Each session will have three or four fifteen
minute presentations. A panel comprised
of the presenters and a facilitator will then
interact with the audience in a forty minute
Q&A discussion. A number of half-day
workshops will run on Wednesday 24
November 2010.
The Venue
The Women’s College is located within
beautiful grounds at the Camperdown
Campus of the University of Sydney and
it is historically significant as the first
residential, university college for women
in Australia. The College’s establishment
was facilitated by the commitment of the
University, in 1881, to enable women to
study “in complete equality with men”. The
first building was opened in 1894; it housed
26 students.
The College provides accommodation for
250 undergraduate, and 30 postgraduate
women scholars. In 2005, the College was
listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.
The Women’s College is located less than
4 kilometres from Sydney’s bustling city
centre, and adjacent to the colourful cafélined
suburbs of Glebe and Newtown.
Accessibility
The AMC2010 Committee has
endeavoured to make the 4thAustralasian
Orientation and Mobility Conference
accessible for all. All Conference rooms are
wheelchair accessible, Conference material
is available in alternate formats
and tactile maps of The Women’s College
are available.
If you have a query or require assistance
at any time, please ask the roving “Blue
Shirts” or visit the AMC2010 Office.
5

Registration
Delegates and exhibitors need to register
their attendance at AMC2010. This can be
done at the AMC2010 Registration Desk or
once this is closed, at the AMC2010 Office.
Registration commences at 8:00am on
Wednesday 24 November.
Conference Bags & Name Tags
Conference bags and name tags can be
collected upon registration. N.B. Please
ensure you wear your name tag at ALL
times, including to the Cocktail Welcome
Reception and Conference Dinner.
AMC2010 Proceedings
A disc with all AMC2010 PowerPoint
presentations and submitted papers is
provided in your AMC2010 Conference
bag. N.B. Not all presenters submitted a
paper with their presentation.
Presenters
All presenters are required to report to
the AMC2010 Office upon their arrival in
order to proceed with technical verification
of their presentations, confirm the time,
day and room for their presentation, and
receive any last minute information from the
AMC2010 Committee.
The main Conference rooms will be staffed
by technicians who will take care of all
technical aspects of the presentation. The
use of personal laptops will not be allowed
in order to guarantee smooth operation.
Session Facilitators
Session Facilitators are asked to report to
the AMC2010 Office upon their arrival, in
order to receive guidelines.
Exhibitors’ Displays
The Exhibitors’ Displays will be available
for viewing in the Dining Room at The
Women’s College on Thursday 25
November, from 7:30am until 5:30pm. The
Dining Room is on the first floor of The
Women’s College and can be accessed via
the stairs or lift near the Main Foyer.
Exhibitors can set-up from 7:00am on
Thursday 25 November.
Continuing Professional
Development / Education
(CPD / CPE)
A Certificate of Attendance will be
provided when you register. The following
organisations have approved CPD points:
• Association of Consultants In
Access Australia
• Australian Physiotherapy Association
• Australasian Rehabilitation
Nurses’ Association
• Royal Australian & New Zealand College
of Ophthalmologists (please advise
the AMC2010 Committee if you are a
RANZCO member)
• Optometrists Association Australia -
please sign the attendance sheet upon
registration
• By attending this CPD
Event, you may be able to
claim up to 6 CPD hours in
Category 5 towards your
Accredited Occupational
Therapist Program CPD
Points requirements.
6

Internet Access
If you have a laptop, WiFi service is
available in The Women’s College. Also, the
Internet is available in the accommodation
rooms via The Women’s College ISP
provider and can be purchased online. LAN
cables are available for hire from
the College.
Limited free Internet access is available at
The Women’s College Computer Resource
Centre on College computers. Longer user
periods can be purchased in time blocks
from The Women’s College ISP.
Please visit The Women’s College
Reception for more information.
Dog Toileting Area
For assistance in locating a dog toileting
area, please ask at the AMC2010 Office.
Cloakroom
To utilise the cloakroom, please visit The
Women’s College Reception. Luggage
stored in the cloakroom is done so at your
own risk.
ATMs, Currency Exchange and
Post Office
There are a number of ATMs located
across The University of Sydney campus,
with the nearest being the Wentworth
Building G01; Manning House A23; and
Pharmacy & Bank Building A15. There is
another ATM located on Missenden Road
in front of the convenience store between
Carillon Avenue and King Street (left side
when coming from Carillon Ave).
There is a Post Office located on The
University of Sydney campus in the
Pharmacy & Bank Building A15.
For assistance in locating these facilities,
please visit the AMC2010 Office.
Liability
The AMC2010 Committee (conference
organisers) shall not be held liable for
personal accidents or losses or damage
to private property of registered AMC2010
participants (including delegates,
presenters and exhibitors). Participants
should make their own arrangements with
respect to personal insurance.
Disclaimer
The AMC2010 Committee (conference
organisers) cannot be held responsible for
any losses incurred by participants in the
event of labour disruptions or cancellation
of AMC2010. The program was correct at
the time of printing but organisers reserve
the right to alter if deemed necessary.
Interesting Fact
Mobility services provided by
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT now include
training in how to use safety canes,
electronic travel devices and Guide
Dogs to safely, confidently and
independently get between A and B.
Rydges Camperdown offers currency
exchange (phone: 02 9516 1522,
9 Missenden Rd).
7

Opening Address Speaker
Mr Graeme Innes AM
Disability Discrimination
Commissioner and Race
Discrimination Commissioner
Graeme has been a Member of the
NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal,
the NSW Consumer, Trader and Tenancy
Tribunal, and the Social Security
Appeals Tribunal, as well as a Hearing
Commissioner with the Human Rights and
Equal Opportunity Commission.
Graeme was Chair of the Disability Advisory
Council of Australia, and the first Chair
of Vision Australia, Australia’s national
blindness agency.
Graeme has been a consultant to
organisations such as Westpac, Qantas,
and Sydney Water, on disability issues.
He has also been a Councillor on Ku-ringgai
local Council.
In 1995 Graeme was made a Member
of the Order of Australia (AM). He was a
finalist for Australian of the Year in 2003.
Graeme Innes was appointed Australia’s
Disability Discrimination Commissioner and
Race Discrimination Commissioner in
July 2009.
In December 2005 he was appointed as
Human Rights Commissioner and Disability
Discrimination Commissioner. In these roles
he led or contributed to initiatives including
the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry,
achieving removal of discrimination across
federal law; drafting of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and ratification by Australia;
three inspections of Australia’s Immigration
Detention facilities; and development of a
National Disability Strategy.
Graeme is married with an adult son and
a daughter in primary school. He enjoys
cricket (as a spectator) and sailing (as a
participant), and relaxes by drinking fine
Australian white wine.
Graeme is a Lawyer, Mediator and
Company Director. He has been a Human
Rights Practitioner for almost 30 years in
NSW, WA and nationally.
8

Keynote speaker
Professor The Hon.
Dr Barry Owen Jones AO
He was a member of the Executive
Board of UNESCO in Paris 1991-95, Vice
President, World Heritage Committee
1995-96 and a consultant for OECD.
He is the only person to have been elected
as a Fellow of all four Australian learned
Academies: Technological Sciences and
Engineering (FTSE) in 1992, the Humanities
(FAHA) in 1993, Science (FAA) in 1996, and
Social Sciences (FASSA) in 2003.
His books include Macmillan Dictionary
of Biography 1981, Sleepers Wake!
Technology and the Future of Work 1982,
Living by our Wits 1986, Barry Jones’
Dictionary of World Biography 1994, 1996,
1998. His autobiography, A Thinking Reed,
was published in October 2006.
Barry Owen Jones, AO, is one of Australia’s
living treasures as well as a writer,
broadcaster and former Labor politician.
His career has spanned education, film,
politics, civil liberties, constitutional change
and ‘the knowledge society’.
Barry represented the federal seat of Lalor
(1977-98) and in the Hawke Government
became Australia’s longest serving Science
Minister (1983-90). He served as National
President of the Australian Labor Party
1992-2000 and again 2005-06.
Barry currently serves on the boards of
CARE Australia, the Macfarlane Burnet
Institute, The Centre for Eye Research,
Australia and Victorian Opera and chairs
Vision 2020 Australia and the Port Arthur
Historic Site Management Authority. He
is currently a Professorial Fellow at the
University of Melbourne.
In 1985 he became the only Australian
Minister invited to address a Summit
meeting of the ‘Group of Seven’ northern
industrial powers, in Ottawa. In 1987 he
chaired OECD’s review of the
Yugoslavian economy.
In June 1990 he was part of an
international think tank invited to investigate
‘perestroika’ in the USSR and make
recommendations to Mikhail Gorbachev.
9

Ophthalmic Update
Dr John Grigg
He is conducting research in genetic eye
disease and electrophysiology of the visual
system and glaucoma management.
He is the current Chair of the RANZCO
scientific program committee. New South
Wales representative on the Australian and
New Zealand Glaucoma interest group
board as well as Postgraduate coursework
coordinator Discipline of Ophthalmology
University of Sydney for the Ophthalmic
Master’s programs conducted by
the Discipline.
Thank you to NSW Taxi Council Ltd
AMC2010 Bronze Sponsor
Dr John Grigg is Head of the Discipline of
Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney
and Consultant Ophthalmologist Sydney
Eye Hospital and The Children’s
Hospital Westmead.
He completed vocational training in
ophthalmology the Sydney Eye Hospital
program. Fellowships in glaucoma, cataract
and paediatric ophthalmology were
undertaken in Australia and the UK. During
the three years in the UK he was appointed
locum Consultant Ophthalmologist at
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital for 2 years
and for the last year was acting head of the
glaucoma unit.
Thank you to Tyrrell’s Wines & Lindt
AMC2010 Supporters
His sub speciality ophthalmology
practice is in glaucoma, cataract, clinical
electrophysiology and
paediatric ophthalmology.
He heads the Electrophysiology
investigation unit at the Save Sight Institute,
University of Sydney, Sydney Eye
Hospital campus.
10

Conference Program: Social Events
AMC2010 Breaks
Morning tea and afternoon tea on
Wednesday and Friday will be provided in
the Menzies Courtyard.
Morning tea and afternoon tea on Thursday
will be provided in the Dining Room on the
first floor. This can be accessed via the
stairs or lift near the Main Foyer.
Lunch on all three days will be provided in
the Dining Room on the first floor.
Cocktail Welcome Reception
This event will provide an opportunity for
delegates to meet with each other before
the formal commencement of AMC2010.
Drinks and finger food will be provided.
Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Date: Wednesday 24 November
Venue: Main Common Room,
The Women’s College
Conference Dinner
The Conference Dinner is a chance for
delegates to relax and catch-up with
acquaintances, and explore some of the
ideas and issues raised during the formal
Conference sessions.
Time: drinks from 6:30pm (at own cost),
dinner 7:30pm to 10:30pm
Date: Thursday 25 November
Venue: The Kirribilli Club
11 Harbour View Crescent, Lavender Bay
(access is also available from Cliff Street).
Dress: Business casual
The Kirribilli Club is located in the heart
of Lavender Bay, overlooking one of the
worlds’ most spectacular harbours.
If you wish to travel with a walking group
to the AMC2010 Conference Dinner,
which will travel by public bus and ferry,
please listen for announcements regarding
departure time.
Things to see and do…
Sydney is an exciting, colourful and vibrant
city where it’s easy to get out and about.
You can tick off all the city’s icons - the
World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera
House, Sydney Harbour and the Sydney
Harbour Bridge. You can also discover less
well known attractions, all within a short
distance of Circular Quay.
Visit sydneyforall.com to find out the inside
story on accessible Sydney experiences
around Circular Quay and the Harbour.
Discover the colonial heritage of The
Rocks, be inspired by museums and art
galleries, visit family-friendly attractions at
Darling Harbour, catch a ferry to Manly and
enjoy the panoramic views from Sydney
Harbour National Park.
Interesting Facts
• There are around 570,000
Australians who are blind or have
impaired vision (ABS 2008), with
this figured estimated to double by
2020 (Access Economics 2010).
• Guide Dogs NSW/ACT works with
people of all ages and with any
form of vision impairment.
11

Conference Program: Wednesday 24 November 2010
8:00am to 9:00am
8:00am to 8:45am
9:00am to 10:30am
10:30am to 11:00am
11:00am to 12:30pm
12:30pm to 1:30pm
1:30pm to 3:00pm
3:00pm to 3:30pm
3:30pm to 5:00pm
4:30pm to 5:15pm
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Registration Desk open
Arrival tea and coffee in Menzies Courtyard
Morning workshops
Morning tea in Menzies Courtyard
Morning workshops continue
Lunch in Dining Room (Registration Desk open)
Afternoon workshops
Afternoon tea in Menzies Courtyard
Afternoon workshops continue
Registration Desk open
Cocktail Welcome Reception in Main Common Room
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12

Conference Program: Wednesday 24 November 2010
Pre-conference Workshop Program
9:00am to 12:30pm
Morning Workshops
Tactile Mapping
Location: Main Common Room
Presented by:
Ben Schwarz, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Karen Warwick, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Adrian Mielke, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
The Miniguide
(For those without previous experience in Miniguide instruction)
Location: Courtyard Tutorial Room
Presented by:
Jeremy Hill, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
“Tricks of the Trade”
Location: Fairfax Common Room
Presented by:
Ross Still, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Low Vision / Visual Field – A Practical Workshop
Location: Fairfax Meeting Room
Presented by:
Sharon Oberstein, Optometrist, University of New South Wales
Cathie Wiltshire, Orthoptist, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Graham Sheil, Managing Director of European Eyewear
Neurological Vision Loss – Related Services and Issues
Location: Library
Presented by:
Michelle Sharkey, Executive Officer, Stroke Recovery Association NSW
Nadia Schweizer, Neurosciences Clinical Nurse Consultant, Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital, Sydney
Karleen Allen, Occupational Therapist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
13

Conference Program: Wednesday 24 November 2010
Pre-conference Workshop Program
1:30pm to 5:00pm
Afternoon Workshops
14
GPS: An introductory workshop to current GPS options
Location: Fairfax Meeting Room
Presented by:
Des Creagh, Project Officer, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Kelly Prentice, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Sam Taylor, Blindness Product Consultant, Humanware
Active Learning
Location: Library
Presented by:
Angela Harrison, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Fiona Holmes, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
The Miniguide
(For those without previous experience in Miniguide instruction)
Location: Courtyard Tutorial Room
Presented by:
Jeremy Hill, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
“Tricks of the Trade”
Location: Fairfax Common Room
Presented by:
Ross Still, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Access and Wayfinding for People with Impaired Vision
Location: Main Common Room
Presented by:
Jane Bryce, Community Education Coordinator, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Bashir Ebrahim, OAM, Client Services Manager, Guide Dogs Queensland
Brian J Kidd, AM, LFRAIA, M.Arch, Past Chair of ACROD Committee on Access & Mobility
(1984-94)
Mark Relf, Access Consultant and member of Standards Australia ME-64 Committee for
the Development of Standards on Access
Peter Skjott, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Guide Dogs SA.NT

Conference Program: Thursday 25 November 2010
7:30am
8:00am to 9:15am
8:00am to 9:15am
9:30am to 9:55am
9:55am to 10:50am
10:50am to 11:30am
Exhibitors’ Displays open
Registration Desk open
Arrival tea and coffee in Dining Room
Official Conference Opening and Welcome in the Menzies
Common Room:
Graeme Innes AM
Keynote Speaker in the Menzies Common Room:
Professor The Hon. Dr Barry Jones AO
Morning Tea in Dining Room
11:30am to 1:00pm Session 1
Forum A – Menzies Common Room (4 speakers)
Forum B – Main Common Room (3 speakers)
(refer to page 16 for details)
1:00pm to 2:00pm
Lunch in Dining Room
2:00pm to 3:30pm Session 2
Forum A – Menzies Common Room (3 speakers)
Forum B – Main Common Room (4 speakers)
(refer to page 17 for details)
3:30pm to 4:00pm
4:00pm to 5:00pm
5:00pm
5:30pm
from 6:30pm
7:30pm to 10:30pm
Afternoon Tea in Dining Room
Plenary Session in Menzies Common Room:
Ophthalmic Update with Dr John Grigg
Sessions complete
Exhibitors’ Displays close
Walking group leaves from Main Foyer to go via public bus &
ferry to The Kirribilli Club (listen for announcements regarding
departure time)
Pre-dinner drinks at The Kirribilli Club (at own cost)
Conference Dinner at The Kirribilli Club
15

Delegates need to choose one Forum to attend each Session.
Delegates will not be able to move between Forums during a Session.
11:30 am Session 1: Thursday 25 November 2010
11:30am Session 1, Forum A: Developing your career as an
Orientation and Mobility / Guide Dog specialist
Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Some Thoughts On Agencies That Employ O&M Specialists
Dr Mike Steer
2. Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA): What Is It and Why Do
We Need It?
Mark Battista
3. ‘Best Practice’ in O&M: We Can Do Better Than That
Lil Deverell
4. Using Reflective Practice for Supervising Students on Placement
Marg Harvey, Di Seybold and Luke Price
11:30am Session 1, Forum B: Managing challenging training
programs including innovative program design structure and execution
Room: Main Common Room
1. Group Programs: ‘A Family Centred Approach to Group Programs for
Younger Clients’
Paul Hartley and Lorraine Mitchell
2. K94-U2C
Chris Muldoon and Chris Headland
3. Orientation & Mobility Holiday Experience: “An Innovative Program Design”
Ross Still and Warren Hawley
16

2:00pm Session 2: Thursday 25 November 2010
2:00pm Session 2, Forum A: Developing your career as an Orientation
and Mobility / Guide Dog specialist
Room: Menzies Common Room
1. The Realities of Being an O&M with a Vision Impairment: Stories from my First Year
Penny Stevenson
2. My Career As An O&M Specialist: The Most Recent 40 Years
Alvin Emil Vopata
3. Neuroscience and Orientation and Mobility: A New Way to Look at Things
Roley Stuart
2:00pm Session 2, Forum B: The relationship between service
provider and user. Social role valorisation
Room: Main Common Room
1. Subverting Blindness Stereotypes: Exploring Implicit Theories of Intelligence,
Learning and Life-worlds in the Context of O&M
Lil Deverell
2. Working Together: The Role of Social Role Valorisation in Community Education
Jane Bryce
3. No Cane, No Gain?? It’s Not Just About Mobility: Thoughts of a Cane User!
Celia Vild
4. Discrimination, Your Rights, Advice and Strategies
Claire Williams
17

Conference Program: Friday 26 November 2010
8:00am to 8:45am
8:30am to 9:00am
Arrival tea and coffee in Menzies Courtyard
Registration Desk open
9:00am to 10:40am Session 3
Forum A – Menzies Common Room (4 speakers)
Forum B – Main Common Room (3 speakers)
(refer to page 19 for details)
10:40am to 11:10am
Morning Tea in Menzies Courtyard
11:10am to 1:00pm Session 4
Forum A – Menzies Common Room (4 speakers)
Forum B – Main Common Room (3 speakers)
(refer to pages following for details)
1:00pm to 2:00pm
Lunch in Dining Room
2:00pm to 3:40pm Session 5
Forum A – Menzies Common Room (4 speakers)
Forum B – Main Common Room (4 speakers)
Forum C – Library (3 speakers)
(refer to pages 21 and 22 for details)
3:40pm to 4:00pm
4:00pm to 4:30pm
4:30pm to 5:15pm
Afternoon Tea in Menzies Courtyard
Plenary Session in Menzies Common Room
- Summary and Concluding Discussions
- Conference Officially Closed
OMAA Annual General Meeting in Menzies Common Room
18

9:00am Session 3: Friday 26 November 2010
9:00am Session 3, Forum A: One size fits all or does it?
Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Assisting Adults Who Have a Vision Impairment to Enhance Their Independent
Orientation & Mobility Skills / Goals Throughout Their Life by Teaching and
Promoting Physical Fitness & Good Nutrition
Regina Renfree and Carole Grayson
2. The Challenges of Servicing Remote Areas: The Kimberley WA Program
Jodie Bruce
3. The “Kinetic Cane”: Enhancing Independence for a Woman with Limited Arm Use
Beth Helmers
4. “The Spring Loaded Cane”: A Cane Adaptation for a Client with RSI
Karyn Willins
9:00am Session 3, Forum B: Managing challenging training programs
including innovative program design structure and execution
Room: Main Common Room
1. Have You Got Your License? O&M with Scooters and Wheelchairs
Shelley Pannier and Lil Deverell
2. Challenges for Orientation and Mobility Training on Public Buses with a Low Vision
Client who Mobilises in an Electric Wheelchair
Nathan Burford
3. Is Long Cane Instruction Enough? Investigating the Benefits of Physiotherapy
Assessment and Intervention in an Orientation and Mobility Program
Karen Warwick
19

11:10am Session 4: Friday 26 November 2010
11:10am Session 4, Forum A: One size fits all or does it?
Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Balancing Life and Creating Lifestyle
Sophie Mebalds and Shane McSweeney
2. Consciousness at the Crossroads: Attention, Awareness, Mindfulness, and
Orientation and Mobility
Nathan Burford
3. ‘Into the future!’: Utilising Media and Technology to Implement Client Programs
for Children
Laura Hunt and Belinda Lock
4. Improving Postural Stability in Older Adults with Vision Impairment
Michael Gleeson
11:10am Session 4, Forum B: Program evaluation
Room: Main Common Room
1. ‘Southern Cross to Central’: The Ultimate in Student Led Group O&M Programs
Rachel Morgan and Alicia San Martin
2. The Miniguide: Ten Years Down the Track
Jeremy Hill
3. Review of Current Practices in Teaching Spatial Concepts and Navigation and
Advantages in Using GPS Devices to Improve the Practical Spatial Knowledge of
People who have Significant Vision Impairment
Ewa Borkowski and Des Creagh
20

2:00pm Session 5: Friday 26 November 2010
2:00pm Session 5, Forum A: Program evaluation
Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Unilateral Spatial Neglect: Top Down Approach, Bottom Up Approach or Both? A
Research Project Investigating Prismatic Adaptation, Visual Scanning Training and
Transference into the Real World
Tracey Stuart
2. Scanning Training for Acquired Brain Injury: Where is the Research?
Allison Hayes
3. TBI Vision Therapy for Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts
Gayle Clarke and Allison Hayes
4. Case studies: Wounded Veterans with TBI and Related Neurological Vision Deficits
Gayle Clarke
2:00pm Session 5, Forum B: Program evaluation
Room: Main Common Room
1. Dog Distraction Quantified
Peter McKenzie
2. How to Teach Your Guide Dog Respect, Discipline and Recall While Sitting on the
Lounge Having a Beer Watching the Footy
John Payne
3. A Comparison in the Number of After Care Programs Provided to Labrador Retriever
and Golden Retriever Guide Dogs in NSW/ACT
Andrew Addison
4. Association Between Lateralization Measures and Guide Dog Success
Lisa Tomkins, Peter Thomson and Paul McGreevy
Please also see Session 5, Forum C : Program evaluation
presentations on the next page.
21

2:00pm Session 5, Forum C: Program evaluation
Room: Library
1. A Case Study to Outline the O&M Programs for a Mature Lady who Became Totally
Blind following a Long History of Living with Low Vision
Judy Rogers
2. Ability to Get About as a Global Measure of Outcome for O&M with Older Persons
Steve La Grow
3. A Snapshot of Australian Childhood Vision Impairment
Sue Silveira
4:30pm: Friday 26 November 2010
4:30pm: Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA)
Annual General Meeting
Room: Menzies Common Room
The Orientation and Mobility Association of Australasia (OMAA) is the formal professional
body for Orientation and Mobility Specialists in Australia, New Zealand and across all the
island nations of the South Pacific region.
Our aims are to maintain appropriate standards of practice and training, to provide
professional development through peer meetings and more formal seminars and conferences,
to promote O&M as a profession, to provide representation for Orientation and Mobility
professionals on professional issues, and to publish information about and for the profession.
The OMAA AGM will at commence at 4:30pm, in the Menzies Common Room. It is
expected that the AGM will last no longer than 45 minutes. It will be an opportunity to meet
with members and find out more about the Association. Discounted memberships will be
available for people interested in joining during the AMC2010 Conference.
22

Summaries of AMC2010 Presentations
Full abstracts for presentations are available at www.guidedogs.com.au/amc2010
11:30am Session 1, Forum A: Developing your
career as an O&M/ Guide Dog specialist.
Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Title: Some Thoughts On Agencies That
Employ O&M Specialists
Author: Dr Mike Steer, Senior Lecturer - Sensory
Disability, Renwick Centre, Royal Institute for Deaf
and Blind Children, Sydney
Summary: O&M as a profession is relatively new,
dating in the USA, Britain and Australia from the
1950’s. Examination of the organisational structure
and particularly the pervasive symbolism that these
O&M service provision agencies generate can
produce many rewarding and unusual insights.
The author will examine the several major Australian
O&M service provider agencies from a symbolic
perspective and argue that such an examination
has a legitimate and important part to play in better
understanding the roles they play in society.
2. Title: Orientation and Mobility Association of
Australasia (OMAA): What Is It and Why Do We
Need It?
Author: Mark Battista, Guide Dogs SA.NT
Summary: OMAA is the only formal professional
body for O&M Instructors in Australasia.
This paper will cover the genesis of the OMIAA (the
predecessor of OMAA), through archival record,
explore some key initiatives and highlights and
recount its history from inception in 1971 until
transition to OMAA via the Orientation and Mobility
Specialists Association of Victoria (OMSAV). It will
also argue the case for a professional association
and how the collective voice of individual members
is instrumental in establishing a professional
presence to all key stakeholders and the
maintenance of high standards of practice.
3. Title: ‘Best Practice’ in O&M: We Can Do
Better Than That
Author: Lil Deverell, Guide Dogs Victoria
Summary: Best practice represents a line of best
fit. We need to ask ourselves in O&M whether this
is a good enough professional standard to meet
the unique needs of people with vision impairment.
We see the benefits of our professional action
in the decisions our clients make but we are
not good at formalising this evidence through
research. We need to ally ourselves with an
ideology, an approach to research and the
gathering of evidence which is more consistent
with the nature of our profession. This shift in
identity has implications for the tertiary training of
O&M Instructors. It impacts on how we approach
our relationship with clients. And it opens up to
us myriad approaches to qualitative and mixed
methods research.
4. Title: Using Reflective Practice for
Supervising Students on Placement
Authors: Marg Harvey, Di Seybold and Luke Price,
O&M Instructors, Vision Australia
Summary: Understanding how to balance
professional feedback and support with care and
concern for welfare is a challenge for all O&M
Specialists who supervise students.
Reflective practitioners think about their actions
before, during and after the delivery of a
professional service with a view to improvement
and change, leading to the refinement of practice
and new levels of understanding.
This paper will outline how to understand your
learning or teaching style and ways of gathering
personal reflections from students to assist
placements to progress smoothly
11:30am Session 1, Forum B: Managing
challenging training programs including
innovative program design structure and
execution. Room: Main Common Room
1. Title: Group Programs: ‘A Family Centred
Approach to Group Programs for Younger
Clients’
Authors: Paul Hartley and Lorraine Mitchell, Vision
Australia, Wollongong, NSW
Summary: This paper will examine the group
programs for children and young adults run by
Vision Australia Wollongong. Programs have a
major focus on O&M but also combine daily living
skills giving a holistic approach to these activities.
This presentation will explain how group activities
can be designed and implemented for varying age
groups and abilities. Some of these programs have
included involvement of parents and families of the
clients. The paper will concentrate on a program
conducted at Smiggins, January 2010.
23

These programs emphasise the use of a
multidisciplinary approach to program development
and implementation to enhance client outcomes in
the areas of O&M and daily living skills.
2. Title: K94-U2C
Authors: Chris Muldoon, Manager RSB Guide Dog
Service and Chris Headland, O&M Instructor
Summary: K9 =canine; 4= for; u= you; 2= to;
c=see (canine for you to see) K94U2C is the
name for the Royal Society for the Blind (RSB)
Guide Dog/Mobility Service Residential Skills
Development Program for young people who
are blind or vision impaired to experience the
practicalities, responsibilities and benefits of having
an RSB Guide Dog as their preferred mobility aid.
In order to achieve this objective, K94-U2C was
developed as a “come and try” program where
participants were each allocated an RSB Training
Guide Dog, working one-on-one with RSB
instructors (both Guide Dog and O&M staff), in a
residential setting over a weekend. To date there
have been two camps.
3. Title: Orientation & Mobility Holiday
Experience: “An Innovative Program Design”
Authors: Warren Hawley, O&M Instructor (Guide
Dog) and Ross Still, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT
Summary: We would like to introduce the concept
of an O&M program which gives participants the
opportunity to have a “holiday” and participate in
recreational activities of their choice.
The activities chosen during the week present
an opportunity to apply and reinforce long cane
and orientation skills in a natural setting, with
minimal disruption to the holiday experience.
While our participants have a holiday, they are
also undertaking a self-directed mobility program
that will introduce, or refresh skills such as selfprotection,
alignment, mapping, sighted guiding
24
2:00pm Session 2, Forum A: Developing your
career as an O&M / Guide Dog specialist. Room:
Menzies Common Room
and independent long cane travel.
1. Title: The Realities of Being an O&M with a
Vision Impairment: Stories from my First Year
Author: Penny Stevenson, O&M Instructor, Vision
Australia, Western Metropolitan Region, Melbourne
Summary: People who are blind or have low vision
have a long history in providing habilitation and
rehabilitation services worldwide. This ranges from
teaching children in residential school settings to
teaching adults, in areas from Braille, to adaptive
technology. A glaring exception seems to be O&M,
particularly in the Australian context.
Since the advent of O&M as a profession in
Australia, there have been many blind or vision
impaired individuals achieve O&M qualifications but
few, if any, gain employment in the field…until
last year.
This presentation seeks to discuss the presenter’s
journey to the O&M profession, the perceived
issues from various standpoints and some
strategies, techniques & solutions.
2. Title: My Career As An O&M Specialist: The
Most Recent 40 Years
Author: Alvin Emil Vopata, Certified O&M Specialist
(COMS), USA
Summary: In the 40 years since I obtained my
Master’s Degree in O&M from Western Michigan
University in Kalamazoo in 1970, I have taught
students with visual and other impairments in
diverse residential and itinerant programs in Iowa,
Missouri, Wisconsin, California, and Kansas.
During that time, many changes occurred in our
field that affected my development as an O&M
specialist. In my presentation, I will explain how
those occurred; and how they influenced my
evolving philosophy, my interactions with students,
and my instruction methods with them.
3. Title: Neuroscience and Orientation and
Mobility: A New Way to Look at Things
Author: Roley Stuart, O&M Teacher, Kilparrin
Teaching and Assessment School & Services,
South Australia (SA)
Summary: In SA in 2004-5, as a result of a
program aimed at developing strategies to increase
the capacity of professionals to incorporate
practices informed and influenced with the latest
understandings of how the mind and the brain
work, three Universities combined to develop a
Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience specifically
for teachers.
The degree was made up of four subjects;
• Sensing and Moving, Perceiving and Acting
• The Learning Brain
• The Neuroscience of Cognition
• The Behaving Brain
While the course was designed specifically
for teachers, it provided the flexibility for the
assessment tasks to be directed towards O&M.
Having worked as an O&M Instructor since 1980,
the presentation examines the professional learning
that the author undertook and will give specific
examples of information gained through the course
of his study.

2:00pm Session 2, Forum B: The relationship
between service provider and user. Social role
valorisation. Room: Main Common Room
1. Title: Subverting Blindness Stereotypes:
Exploring Implicit Theories of Intelligence,
Learning and Life-worlds in the Context of O&M
Author: Lil Deverell, Guide Dogs Victoria
Summary: For a variety of reasons, stereotypical
notions of blindness and low vision are firmly
entrenched in the wider community. These
stereotypes are reinforced in part by vision
impairment organisations, and impede progress
towards self determination in people who are blind
or partially sighted. This presentation challenges
vision impairment organisations to depart from the
status quo and be proactive in confronting and
subverting unhelpful stereotypes.
2. Title: Working Together: The Role of Social
Role Valorisation in Community Education
Author: Jane Bryce, Community Education
Coordinator, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: The Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Community
Education team found that when educating new
staff in some organisations / industries, new staff
had limited experience to relate to the needs of
a person with impaired vision. Also, it was found
that there were numerous key messages that were
relevant across a variety of industries and that the
need for resources was as important in regional
and remote areas as it was in major cities. As a
result of these observations, the Working Together
DVD was created.
The aim was to provide a positive message about
what those watching the DVD could do (skills of
good communication, guiding, orientation and
Guide Dog etiquette) to assist a person with
impaired vision.
3. Title: No Cane, No Gain?? It’s Not Just About
Mobility: Thoughts of a Cane User!
Author: Celia Vild, Masters Special Ed (Sensory
Disability)
Summary: I am a person who has Stargardt’s
Disease, which first affected me in my early 30s.
I’m now 52. I have been given a cane and despite
the training and knowing the benefits it can give me
when moving around the community, I still find it
difficult to use.
In this presentation I would like to share my
thoughts about and experiences using a cane.
By discussing and sharing my experiences in
using a cane, I hope to give professionals insight,
ensuring that users find the gains in using a cane,
and that the professionals realise it is not just
about mobility!!
4: Title: Discrimination, Your Rights, Advice and
Strategies
Author: Claire Williams, Community Education
Officer, Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW
Abstract: This presentation will cover
discrimination laws, and rights and responsibilities
under the law; discuss the forms and types of
discrimination; outline exceptions and exemptions
with regard to discrimination; and examine the Anti-
Discrimination Board complaint process.
9:00am Session 3, Forum A: One size fits all or
does it? Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Title: Assisting Adults Who Have a Vision
Impairment to Enhance Their Independent
Orientation & Mobility Skills / Goals Throughout
Their Life by Teaching and Promoting Physical
Fitness & Good Nutrition
Authors: Carole Grayson, O&M Instructor (Guide
Dog) and Regina Renfree, Regional Manager,
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: This presentation will discuss the
history, development and implementation of a
program aimed at promoting physical fitness and
good nutrition to people who are vision impaired.
A ‘fit camp’ was developed by Guide Dogs NSW/
ACT to provide a physical fitness program aimed
at establishing and reaching individual goals, while
teaching each participant the correct technique for
exercises that can be done at home on a regular
basis to improve core strength, balance, muscle
development and assist with weight loss. There
was also a recreational aspect to the course,
introducing a range of sporting activities.
2. Title: The Challenges of Servicing Remote
Areas: The Kimberley WA Program
Author: Jodie Bruce, O&M Instructor/Social
Worker, Association for the Blind / Guide Dogs WA
Summary: In 1994, a project commenced to
provide services to the Kimberley region. The
principles underpinning the services were: think
locally, be committed, provide continuity, be
culturally sensitive and courteous, and overall
be persistent.
Providing services to the Kimberley region has
required a lot of lateral thinking and flexibility. While
the Kimberley program has seen some changes
and has had many challenges, the underpinning
principles have remained the same.
This paper will attempt to outline the challenges
faced by an O&M Instructor when implementing
services to a regionally remote and culturally
diverse population.
25

The author will also discuss some solutions and
strategies adopted over the duration.
3. Title: The “Kinetic Cane”: Enhancing
Independence for a Woman with Limited
Arm Use
Author: Beth W. Helmers, Regional Manager,
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: University lecturer, Diane, experienced
a brain injury from a blow to the head, and two
successive spinal fractures in falls, resulting in
spinal damage. She is an incomplete quadriplegic
and her neck is fused from C3-C7, preventing the
head turning which would otherwise allow her to
compensate for a visual field loss and impaired
horizontal eye movement. She walks using a
right forearm crutch. With her right arm occupied
and having virtually no independent movement in
her left arm, the challenge was to devise a cane
which could assist her in locating the low objects
and trip hazards which pose a constant risk to
her independent movement. This study will chart
Diane’s progress with an innovative, personalised
mobility aid which also has applications for people
who have had strokes.
4. Title: “The Spring Loaded Cane”: A Cane
Adaptation for a Client with RSI
Author: Karyn Willins, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT
Summary: Suzanne is a 65 year old with Spinal
degeneration and Arthritis. She uses both an
orthopaedic and mobility cane.
Suzanne recently developed RSI in her left hand.
This resulted in pain each time the cane came
in contact with a rough surface or contacted an
object. The challenge was to:
Adapt the cane to allow body coverage, as
Suzanne had limited wrist movement.
Lessen the jarring felt in her wrist and arm using the
“kinetic cane” as a starting point, &
Ensure that the grip was returned to its original
position quickly.
This presentation will discuss the problems
encountered during the development of this
cane, and detail how those challenges were met.
Attendees will be provided with instructions on how
to make the cane. They will also be encouraged to
“think outside the square” when meeting
clients’ needs.
26
9:00am Session 3, Forum B: Managing
challenging training programs including
innovative program design structure and
execution. Room: Main Common Room
1. Title: Have You Got Your License? O&M with
Scooters and Wheelchairs
Authors: Shelley Pannier and Lil Deverell, Guide
Dogs Victoria
Summary: Motorised mobility scooters are
increasingly a part of the streetscape. O&M
Specialists are sometimes asked to advise clients
on the best model to purchase, or consulted about
low vision considerations in relation to these aids.
The authors have been liaising with various O&M
providers about their recommended practices
regarding scooter and wheelchair use, and believe
it is important to bring together this information
for the profession. A draft statement on scooter /
wheelchair use will be brought to the conference,
with an invitation for members of the profession to
comment and provide feedback before a more final
document is generated.
2. Title: Challenges for Orientation and Mobility
Training on Public Buses with a Low Vision
Client who Mobilises in an Electric Wheelchair
Author: Nathan Burford, O&M Instructor, Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: John (pseudonym), a client with
low vision and cerebral palsy, mobilises in an
electric wheelchair. Following prior training and
experience with Miniguide travel, John sought
further independent travel opportunities with public
(wheelchair accessible) buses.
This paper will explore how, for this particular client,
the utilisation of bus travel, and the associated
potential for independence that bus travel offered,
raised a variety of challenges for the delivery
of O&M services, in particular: program design
and delivery; sequence of skill acquisition and
instruction; access/advocacy issues; and defining
instructor role/parameters of service delivery.
3. Title: Is Long Cane Instruction Enough?
Investigating the Benefits of Physiotherapy
Assessment & Intervention in an Orientation
and Mobility Program
Author: Karen Warwick, O&M Instructor, Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: The following paper is a case study of a
7 year old child with a significant congenital vision
loss undergoing long cane instruction. Up until
the age of 4, this child remained at home and did
not participate in any early intervention services.
Meeting the family for the first time at the age of 4,
it was determined the child would benefit from long
cane instruction; however, it became apparent that
this instruction alone did not appear to fully address
the child’s gross motor deficiencies. The purpose of
this paper is to further explore the possible benefits
of incorporating a specific set of physiotherapy

exercises tailored to this child into the long cane
program. To monitor the child’s progress, video
footage was taken throughout the program.
11:10am Session 4, Forum A: One size fits all
or does it? Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Title: Balancing Life & Creating Lifestyle
Authors: Sophie Mebalds, O&M Instructor, and
Shane McSweeney, Occupational Therapist (OT),
Guide Dogs Victoria
Summary: Research has shown that adults with
a vision impairment are 1.5 times more likely to be
obese than their sighted counterparts.
The Health and Wellness Program aimed to
educate and teach vision impaired clients the skills
for accessing and utilizing physical activity options,
healthy cooking skills and strategies for relaxation.
The O&M team and the OT team combined
mobility skills with daily living skills in a four day
program aimed at educating and encouraging
vision impaired clients to include healthy options
within their daily lives.
The Health and Wellness program aims to be an
on-going initiative to provide individuals with the
knowledge and power to create long term change.
2. Title: Consciousness at the Crossroads:
Attention, Awareness, Mindfulness, and
Orientation and Mobility
Author: Nathan Burford, O&M Instructor, Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: This presentation will explore the
topics of attention and awareness, and examine
mindfulness-based methods that have been
demonstrated to cultivate and strengthen attention
and awareness. It will be suggested that a better
understanding of attention and awareness (and the
cultivation of these qualities through mindfulnessbased
interventions) could have radical and farreaching
implications for O&M theory and practice.
Mindfulness-based interventions could (potentially)
be complementary interventions, or incorporated
into O&M training, both/either plus individual and/
or group programs. Hence, on one hand, there is
potential for a ‘one size fits all’ intervention. Yet, a
crucial point of mindfulness-based interventions
and their theoretical underpinnings (from a
consciousness discipline/perspective) is that they
emphasize that ‘one size does not fit all’!
3. Title: ‘Into the future!’: Utilising Media
and Technology to Implement Client Programs
for Children
Authors: Laura Hunt and Belinda Lock, O&M
Instructors, Children’s Mobility Service (CMS),
Guide Dogs Victoria
Summary: Guide Dogs Victoria’s CMS provides
O&M training exclusively to blind and vision
impaired children across Victoria.
The CMS team has been introducing a wide variety
of technology into program design as tools for both
optimal learning as well as increasing the flow of
information between instructors and parents.
Digital cameras, digital voice recorders, satellite
navigation systems and mobile phones are all
examples of everyday pieces of equipment that the
CMS team have been using within O&M programs.
This paper will look at the ways in which technology
can be an integral tool for achieving O&M goals.
4. Title: Improving Postural Stability in Older
Adults with Vision Impairment
Author: Michael Gleeson, Research Student, The
George Institute, Sydney
Summary: Studies of somatosensory and visual
inputs to postural control in healthy older adults
show that nerve conduction speeds and Central
Nervous System integration slows with age. Older
adults shift to a reliance on vision, especially for
dynamic balance control.
An emerging trend in falls prevention focuses on
the degree to which the proprioceptive system
can be improved in order to enhance postural
responses in older individuals.
A research project has been set up by this author
to determine if the Alexander Technique would
be beneficial in these circumstances and this
presentation will provide a background to this
project, and an update on its progress.
11:10am Session 4, Forum B: Program
evaluation. Room: Main Common Room
1. Title: ‘Southern Cross to Central’: The
Ultimate in Student Led Group O&M Programs
Authors: Rachel Morgan and Alicia San Martin,
O&M Instructors, Children’s Mobility Service (CMS),
Guide Dogs Victoria
Summary: Since 2001, the CMS has run
over 50 group programs for students with vision
impairments living in Victoria. Students in primary
school attend programs based around a particular
mobility theme. These programs tend to be an
introduction to O&M concepts and endeavour
to explore what O&M really means. These
programs support the individual O&M programs
students receive. The programs for secondary
school students encourage the development
of independent O&M skills such as routetravel/
planning, orientation, self advocacy, public
transport use and problem solving. But how
can these students take this knowledge to the
next step?
27

The CMS team answered this question by deciding
to challenge students to plan and run their own
mobility program in the busiest capital city in
Australia - Sydney.
2. Title: The Miniguide: Ten Years Down
the Track
Author: Jeremy Hill, Regional Manager, Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: The development of the electronic travel
aid, The Miniguide is firmly rooted in meeting the
needs of the consumer. In 2000, Guide Dogs NSW/
ACT was approached by the inventor who was
seeking to trial the Miniguide with potential users.
The prototype was refined over an intensive testing
period to take into account customer feedback.
Over the past ten years, over seven hundred and
fifty clients in NSW and ACT have been trained and
issued with Miniguides.
A survey was recently carried out of one hundred
randomly selected clients of various ages,
environments and travel needs who presently use
or have used a Miniguide. The results reflect the
adaptability of the aid, the ingenuity of the users
and the imagination of the instructors.
3. Title: Review of Current Practices in
Teaching Spatial Concepts and Navigation and
Advantages in Using GPS Devices to Improve
the Practical Spatial Knowledge of People who
have Significant Vision Impairment
Authors: Ewa Borkowski, Regional Manager, and
Des Creagh, Project Officer, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: O&M is about navigation, and knowing
where you are in space, is the major component of
navigation. Significant vision impairment affects the
way a person perceives the environment.
Teaching navigation, which is an important skill for
independent and safe mobility, is the most critical
skill taught by an O&M Instructor. This paper
evaluates how we teach spatial concepts and
navigation skills in current O&M practice in NSW/
ACT. It examines the benefits of using GPS devices
to teach a person with significant vision impairment
the concepts of spatial awareness and navigation.
2:00pm Session 5, Forum A: Program
evaluation. Room: Menzies Common Room
1. Title: Unilateral Spatial Neglect: Top Down
Approach, Bottom Up Approach or Both?
A Research Project Investigating Prismatic
Adaptation, Visual Scanning Training and
Transference into the Real World
Author: Tracey Stuart, O&M Instructor, Acquired
Brain Injury Vision Service, Guide Dogs SA.NT
Summary: Visual neglect (or inattention),
following right hemisphere injury, has long been
acknowledged as an influencing factor on a
person’s ability to operate at an expected and
consistent level.
For approximately 30 years, Guide Dog
Associations have implemented a “top down”
visual scanning program developed from the
compensatory strategies of Diller and co-workers.
A “bottom up” approach is prismatic
adaptation, where a Fresnel prism is used to
marginally shift the visual field to the right and a
brief exercise undertaken.
Guide Dogs SA.NT are embarking on a research
project which combines the traditional “top down”
approach with the “bottom up” approach of prism
adaptation and then transfer and reinforce the skills
in a range of dynamic, every day environments.
2. Title: Scanning Training for Acquired Brain
Injury: Where is the Research?
Author: Allison Hayes, NVT Systems
Summary: After 25 years how can it be
possible that so little research data is available
to support the efficacy of compensatory visual
scanning training?
This presentation will look at the reasons why
this research has been so long in coming. The
discussion will include the development and use of
a validated outcome measure that relates to vision
skills for mobility. The presentation will also outline
the development of a standardized protocol for
the assessment of all aspects of vision affected by
acquired brain injury.
Finally, the results of a collaborative clinical study
conducted over two years in South Australia will
be reviewed.
3. Title: TBI Vision Therapy for Veterans of the
Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts
Authors: Gayle Clarke and Allison Hayes,
NVT Systems
Summary: The major injury sustained by veterans
of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts is Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI). Over 33% of all wounded were
diagnosed with mild, moderate or severe TBI,
although these figures are thought to be highly
underestimated. 13% of all evacuated wounded
have sustained direct eye trauma.
Concerning studies are revealing that 75% of
those with TBI injuries have visual complaints.
Approximately 60% of those injured have
associated neurological visual disorders as well
as diplopia, convergence disorder, photophobia,
ocular-motor dysfunction, and an inability to
interpret print.
28

This paper will provide related statistics and
discuss vision therapy techniques currently being
provided in Veterans Affairs, Polytrauma Units and
Blind Rehabilitation Centers in the US.
4. Title: Case studies: Wounded Veterans with
TBI and Related Neurological Vision Deficits
Author: Gayle Clarke, NVT Systems
Summary: As an O&M Instructor with many years
experience, I am constantly challenged when
training clients who have resulting Neurological
Visual Deficits following Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
None more so than the wounded troops returning
from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
This paper will provide case studies of wounded
troops in the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Polytrauma
Unit and Blind Rehabilitation Center who have
sustained, among other injuries, neurological
vision deficits following TBI. It will provide medical,
visual and related health information and strategies
used in vision therapy and mobility when training
these clients.
In addition, I will provide a brief overview of a
gentleman who suffered a bullet wound in the
Korean War 1951. I will present his story and how
he felt about finally receiving vision therapy after
50 years.
2:00pm Session 5, Forum B: Program
evaluation. Room: Main Common Room
1. Title: Dog Distraction Quantified
Author: Peter McKenzie, O&M (Guide Dog)
Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify
the degree to which dog distraction has impacted
on the working behaviour of Guide Dogs, and
their user’s mobility. The data used was drawn
from the self reporting of problem behaviours as
experienced by the users of Guide Dogs provided
by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT over a nine year period
from 2000 to 2008.
The study was in three parts. Part 1 identified the
frequency of dog distraction aftercare referrals
associated with Guide Dogs in their initial year of
placement. Part 2 identified the frequency of dog
distraction as an aftercare issue compared with
other aftercare behavioural issues during the initial
year of placement. Part 3 examined a range of
variables, including dog, user, and training variables
associated with Guide Dog mobility, that may
identify areas of possible intervention in attempting
to address dog distraction as a problem.
2. Title: How to Teach Your Guide Dog Respect,
Discipline and Recall While Sitting on the
Lounge Having a Beer Watching the Footy
Author: John Payne, Regional Manager, Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: One of the issues when a Guide
Dog handler gets their new dog home, is the
establishment of a strong bonding environment.
The environment needs to be controlled and the
implementation of leadership building tactics needs
to be established and maintained.
Past methods meant there was no real indoor
discipline tactic and often the dogs were free to
roam around the house without too
much intervention.
I have created a tactic for the handlers, which
not only creates a strong bond but also makes
the Guide Dog handler the leader in a very short
period of time, thus gaining the dog’s respect and
encouraging a strong bond. The system revolves
around several games or routines conducted within
the home as well as speed games employed whilst
working the dog in known areas.
Tactics for dog distraction are also presented.
3. Title: A Comparison in the Number of After
Care Programs Provided to Labrador Retriever
and Golden Retriever Guide Dogs in NSW/ACT
Author: Andrew Addison, O&M (Guide Dog)
Instructor, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Summary: Guide Dogs currently used by Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT are predominantly Golden
Retriever and Labrador Retrievers. In this study,
these breeds (after care programs) were compared
to identify whether one required a statistically
significant larger number of programs. All currently
working Guide Dogs which have been in service
for a period of two years following their graduation
from Guide Dog training were included. Ten of each
breed were randomly selected for comparison. The
number of after care programs of each breed were
ranked for analysis.
4. Title: Association Between Lateralization
Measures and Guide Dog Success
Authors: Lisa Tomkins, Peter Thomson and Paul
McGreevy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University
of Sydney
Summary: The high cost of training a Guide Dog,
combined with success rates of only
50-56% for dogs in training, mean that Guide Dog
Organisations stand to benefit from early detection
of suitable dogs for guiding work.
Lateralisation refers to the specialised
functions of the right and left cerebral hemispheres.
These specialised functions involve controlling
motor responses (e.g. paw preference), and
also the preferential processing of stimuli (e.g.
having a dominant eye). Lateralisation has also
been used as a tool to predict more general
behavioural attributes.
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The aim of this study was to investigate whether
objective laterality measures could be employed
by Guide Dog Organisations to identify dogs with a
high probability of success in the training program.
2:00pm Session 5, Forum C: Program
evaluation. Room: Library
1. Title: A Case Study to Outline the O&M
Programs for a Mature Lady who Became
Totally Blind following a Long History of Living
with Low Vision
Author: Judy Rogers, O&M Instructor, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT
Summary: She has a busy lifestyle and is actively
involved in the community. The client lives alone
with the support of a part-time carer. She is also
a double amputee. It is her aim to live an active,
independent life. This study outlines different
aspects of her journey, including:
1. MOBILITY: Mobility programs using: (1) walker;
(2) wheel-chair
Basic O&M skills including use of echo-location,
sense of direction and straight line walking were
integral to the success of this program.
2. ORIENTATION PROGRAMS: When the client
was required to move at short notice, basic
orientation methods were used in conjunction
with tactile maps. The client had to learn and then
relearn these new areas using both mobility aids
and changing vision.
3. ACCESS ISSUES: Access issues became a
major concern when the new unit was not suitable.
The client has been actively involved in solving the
problems and finding solutions.
2. Title: Ability to Get About as a Global
Measure of Outcome for O&M with Older
Persons
Author: Steve La Grow, School of Health and
Social Services, Massey University, NZ
Summary: Measures of both adaptation to the
onset of disability and quality of life (global and
condition specific) have been used as outcome
measures to evaluate rehabilitation programs for
older persons in general and vision rehabilitation
programs specifically.
Identifying a defining measure for evaluating O&M
programs, however, has proven to be quite elusive.
We have in the past sought to measure the impact
of O&M on (a) safety, (b) speed, (c) efficiency, (d)
ease or comfort, (f) independence, (g) frequency,
and (h) breadth of travel. All of which relate to the
goals of O&M, but none of which, on its own,
appears to be global enough to capture the
essence of what we are trying to achieve
with O&M.
One possibility is a single-item measure of one’s
perception of his or her ability to get around (i.e.
How well are you able to get around?).
The purpose of the study reported here was to
assess the degree to which it contributes to the
prediction of self-assessed quality of life among
older persons who report difficulty seeing as a first
step in assessing its potential as a global outcome
measure for O&M.
3. Title: A Snapshot of Australian Childhood
Vision Impairment
Author: Sue Silveira, Renwick Centre, Royal
Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, Sydney
Abstract: The Australian Childhood Vision
Impairment Register is the first register to capture
information on children who live with vision
impairment in Australia. The Register is sponsored
by the Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children, in
partnership with eye health professionals, health
providers, low vision agencies and
service providers.
The Register is collecting data on children living
with vision impairment and their health, social
and educational requirements across Australia.
This data is then used for service planning and
also research into conditions which cause vision
impairment. Children and their families have been
invited to register since June 2009 and interesting
trends about vision impairment have started
to emerge.
This presentation will inform the O&M Instructor
on current findings from the Register to provide
a snapshot of the Australian situation. Ideas for
opportunities for research collaboration will also
be discussed.
Thank you for attending AMC2010, have a safe trip home
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Help is closer
than you think.
In the past year Guide Dogs NSW/ACT delivered over 7,900 programs for people who are
blind or vision impaired. We teach people valuable skills to help them get around safely in
a vast range of scenarios, regardless of their vision impairment.
With 10 offices situated throughout NSW and the ACT, our instructors travel over one
million kilometres annually to ensure that, wherever possible, mobility skills are taught in the
environment in which they will be used.
We offer a lot more than just our amazing Guide Dogs to help people live more
independent lives, such as training with white canes and electronic aids, and specialised
children’s and neurological vision impairment programs.
And, best of all, our services are free.
To find out more
call us on (02) 9412 9300
or visit www.guidedogs.com.au
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Bronze Sponsor
Supporters
Exhibitors
Display open in Dining Room from 7:30am to 5:30pm Thursday 25 November 2010
NVT
S Y S T E M S
A NEW DIRECTION IN NEURO VISION REHABILITATION
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