RHB 400- SYLLABUS

FALL 2008

 Bob  Bryant                                                               Time: Seminar: Monday 1:00-3:00 PM

Office: HS Bldg 216                                                   Labs: 4-5 lessons per week -TBA

Phone: 468-1145/1220                                               Office Hrs: TBA

E-mail: bhryant@sfasu.edu                                        Credits:  6 hours

Office: HS Bldg 216

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course covers an analysis and implementation of those skills, techniques and principles which enable the visually impaired person to move independently throughout familiar and unfamiliar environments with safety and efficiency.

BOOKS REQUIRED:

Orientation and Mobility Techniques, A Guide for the Practitioner. By Hill and Ponder. American Foundation for the Blind, New York, 1976.
Foundations of Orientation and Mobility-Second Edition - Blasch, Wiener, Welch. American Foundation for the Blind. New York, 1998. 

You can order these two books for the American Foundation for the Blind: (Phone 1-800-232-3044) or click on: AFB O&M Books or the SFASU Bookstore (phone 936 468-2108) .

                                                      
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

• The simulation training and material covered in this course will be structured in order for the students to develop competencies in the following
  
• Methods and systems of independent travel utilized by the visually impaired person.
• The history and development of Orientation and Mobility in the U.S. and other countries.
• The history of the profession of Orientation and Mobility.  
• Personal experience and competency development in the utilization of a human guide.
• Independent cane skills in familiar and unfamiliar indoor environments.
• Independent cane skills in familiar and unfamiliar residential, business and major metropolitan environments.
• Methods of recovery, maintaining orientation and problem solving.
• Basic knowledge of kinesiology in relation to developing independent O&M skills.
• Basic knowledge of perception and locomotion in independent travel.
• Utilizations of the other senses during independent cane travel.
• Audition and O&M for the hearing impaired.
• Types of canes and desirable characteristics.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

This class requires a minimum of 60 lessons of blindfold/simulation training. All lessons will be carried out under the direct one-to-one supervision of an Academy Certified O&M Specialist.  You are also required to observe 10 lessons of other students during their training. Observation forms should be submitted on these lessons at the end of the course.   A Teaching and Materials Notebook will be compiled and submitted three times during the course and there will be three written exams.

 GRADES:  Will be based on the following:

1.         Exam I                                                            100 pts

2.         Exam II                                                           100 pts

3.         Exam III                                                          100 pts

4.         Notebook*                                                       100 pts

5.         Blindfold**                                                       100 pts

Total possible points                                                      500 pts 

 (90% - 100%) 450 - 500 pts = A                        (70% - 79%) 350- 399 pts = C

(80% -  89%)  400 - 449 pts =  B                       (60% - 69%) 300 -349 pts = D

 Five points will be deducted from the notebook grade for every day it is late past the due dates. **The blindfold grade is not based on your performance under blindfold but on attitude, effort, observations, attendance and punctuality for seminars and blindfold lessons, etc.,

• Students with Disabilities—To obtain disability related accommodations and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, Room 325, (936) 468-3004/ (936) 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester.  Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided.

•  Academic Honesty—It is the policy of Stephen F. Austin State University that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form.  All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures.  Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.  (see Academic Integrity A-9.1)

Course Evaluation: You are encouraged to do the on-line evaluation of this course at the end of the semester.   Near the conclusion of each semester, students in the College of Education electronically evaluate courses taken within the COE.  Evaluation data is used for a variety of important purposes including:  1. Course and program improvement, planning, and accreditation; 2. Instruction evaluation purposes; and 3. Making decisions on faculty tenure, promotion, pay, and retention.  As you evaluate this course, please be thoughtful, thorough, and accurate in completing the evaluation.  Please know that the COE faculty is committed to excellence in teaching and continued improvement.  Therefore, your response is critical!

 In the College of Education, the course evaluation process has been simplified and is completed electronically through MySFA.  Although the instructor will be able to view the names of students who complete the survey, all ratings and comments are confidential and anonymous, and will not be available to the instructor until after final grades are posted.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE-FALL 2008 (Seminars times: MONDAY 1:00- 3:00 PM)

AUG    25         Review syllabus, discuss class requirements, review notebook, schedule blindfold lessons.

SEPT     1         Labor Day-No class

SEPT     8        Chapter 20:  History and Development of O&M. Skill review and work on notebook.  Make canes.         

SEPT   15         Chapter 21: History and development of O&M continued. Originators of O&M. Skill Review and work on notebook.

SEPT   22         Chapter 22:  History and Development of University O&M Programs.  Notebook and Exam I review.

SEPT   29        Exam I - On all indoor skills.  Notebook Due - Indoor O&M*.

OCT       6        10 Chapter 7: (pp. 231-240)  Canes - Types – Desirable characteristics - Begin basic recovery. Skill review and work on notebooks. 

OCT     13         Chapter 1: Perception and Locomotion. Block concepts. Continue recovery procedures, - Corner Concepts - Skill review and work on notebooks.

OCT     20        Chapter 2: Establishing & Maintaining Orientation. Powerpoint on Recovery procedures – Skill review and work on Notebook.

OCT    27       Exam II- On residential skills.  Notebooks Due-Residential Unit*

NOV      3       Chapter 4: Audition - Audiograms.  Hearing impairment and O&M.  Notebook and skill review. Intersection drill.

NOV    10        Chapter 5: Kinesiology and Sensorimotor Function.  O&M Terms. Skill Review and work on notebooks.  Intersection drill.

NOV    17        Crossings at intersections using the clock procedure. Discuss Shreveport lessons and work on notebook. 

NOV     24       Trip to Shreveport: City bus travel, downtown route, escalators, revolving doors and eating techniques.

DEC        1       Review Shreveport- Review all business skills for Exam III. Final notebook review.

 
DEC        8       Exam III  - Final Notebooks Due- Business Unit*