The Faculty of Disability Management and Special Education, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Coimbatore Campus organized a two-day Training Programme on Orientation and Mobility for Students with Visual Impairment from 27.10.2023 to 28.10.2023. The program commenced on 27.10.2023, with a prayer song. Swami Buddhidananda, Assistant Administrative Head at FDMSE, RKMVERI, delivered the presidential address. The special address was given by Dr. N. Muthaiah, Dean of FDMSE, RKMVERI. Dr. S. Parween, Assistant Professor, extended a warm welcome to the gathering. Dr. K. Dhanalakshmi, Assistant Professor, provided an orientation about the two-day training program. Dr. J. B. Dheesha, Assistant Professor, proposed a vote of thanks.
On the first day, in the forenoon session of 27.10.2023, Mr. S. Sasikumar, Program Head from Karna Vidya Foundation, Chennai, conducted sessions on the introduction to Orientation and Mobility, its importance, and basic terminologies associated with Orientation and Mobility for individuals with visual impairment.
In the afternoon sessions on 27.10.2023, Mr. R. Jaganathan, Team Lead cum Computer and Mobility Trainer from Help the Blind Foundation, provided training and hands-on experience to the participants on the Sighted Guide Technique. This was followed by a session on Protective Techniques, including passing through doorways, staircases, upper and lower body protection, and search patterns, which was handled by Dr. J. B. Dheesha, Assistant Professor at FDMSE.
On the second day, 28.10.2023, in the forenoon sessions, Protective Techniques, Cane Techniques, and Cane Travel Techniques, including Touch Technique, Touch and Drag Technique, and Diagonal Cane Technique, were jointly handled, and hands-on experience was provided by Mr. S. Sasikumar, Program Head from Karna Vidya Foundation, Chennai, Mr. S. Shankar Subbiah, Assistive Technology Consultant at Agate Infotek, Chennai, and Dr. J. B. Dheesha, Assistant Professor at FDMSE.
In the afternoon sessions on 28.10.2023, Electronic Devices for Orientation and Mobility were discussed and demonstrated by Mr. Shankar Subbaiah, Assistive Technology Consultant at Agate Infotek, Chennai, and Mr. S. Sasikumar, Program Head from Karna Vidya Foundation, Chennai.
Finally, feedback was collected from the participants. In total, 23 (18 Male & 5 Female) individuals with visual impairment from Government Arts College, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Education, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, United College of Arts and Science, Faculty of Disability Management and Special Education, and Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women in Coimbatore benefited from this program.
Below are some photos of the program.
