An orientation and mobility specialist is basically a professional that is responsible for helping people with visual impairments live independently. They teach people that are visually impaired how to move around their environment safely through the use of any residual vision that is still available and through the use of devices and gadgets that can provide them awareness to the immediate surroundings. They offer disability services to patients. An orientation and mobility specialist is trained to help people who cannot see improve their quality of life.
Any person considering becoming an orientation and mobility specialist will need to undergo certain training programs and clinical experience before reaching the career goal. They will need to have strong disability awareness to become this type of health care professional. Orientation and mobility specialist training programs are now offered online, and you can begin your new career path by registering with a great online school. Here are some of the things you will need to consider if you are interested in becoming an orientation and mobility specialist.
- Education: The first step on the road to becoming an orientation and mobility specialist is through earning the degree required to practice the profession. For this profession, there are actually a couple of options for how to proceed. If your financial resources are somewhat limited or if you merely feel that you don’t want to spend a lot of time in school, then you can opt for a two year program in a community college or school that offers an accredited orientation and mobility training program. This program will provide you with special education, psychology and sociology courses with relevance to the visually impaired. You’ll get disability information and resources as well. The final year of coursework for the program will focus purely on building your orientation and mobility training through extensive lectures and practicum. If this is your cup of tea, then make sure to choose a school or program that is accredited by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP). Usually certification programs require a bachelor’s degree to be able to take the program. Some orientation and mobility certification programs have “summer only” classes that make class time more teacher friendly. They can take classes while they are off for the summer and then return to their regular jobs in the fall.
The other training option is through a four year bachelor’s degree in a special education major on visual impairment. Make sure to enroll in a program that is accredited by the ACVREP. After your baccalaureate, you can move on to earn your master’s degree in the field. Obviously, this option will prove to be the better choice since most companies that hire an orientation and mobility specialist will prefer a candidate with these educational credentials. - Certification: Only those with a bachelor’s degree or higher can be certified with approved training as set forth by the ACVREP. Some people choose to take certification classes in addition to their B.S. Teachers frequently add orientation and mobility (O&M) certification to their teaching degree to be able to teach children that have low vision and/or are otherwise visually impaired. The certification granted is Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). Bear in mind that not all U.S. states require this certification to legally practice the profession; however, it would be more beneficial to get certified to beef up your portfolio. The certification will entail taking and passing an exam. Once you earn the certification, remember to renew it every five years.
- Employment: Orientation and mobility specialists are usually hired by schools, private and public rehabilitation organizations, group homes and hospitals. People may privately hire a specialist for home-based work as well. The government is known to hire these professionals for consulting work.
- Salary: The average salary of an orientation and mobility specialist is around $48,000 to $87,000 dependent on experience and educational background.
- Job Outlook: These are very specialized jobs. Relocation may be necessary to find the job that is right for you. There are estimates that the job market for a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist will increase about 20% in the next 20 years as the population ages. If you are willing to relocate, the job market is there.
You may find jobs easily by way of applying directly to institutions that maintain a rehabilitation unit or service for people with visual impairments such as the division of aging or the division of services for the blind. The Internet is another fantastic resource to help you find jobs in this field. There are many Web sites dedicated to these specialized careers that you can check out.