Which professional is primarily responsible for teaching students with visual impairments to navigate environments safely?

• A. Occupational Therapist
• B. Physical Therapist
• C. Orientation and Mobility Specialist
• D. Adaptive Physical Education Specialist

Answer: (C)

Teaching students with visual impairments how to move around their environment safely centers on orientation in space and mobility—the ability to know where you are and how to get to where you want to go. Orientation and mobility specialists are trained to assess travel needs, design individualized plans for safe navigation, and teach skills like long-cane techniques, protective postures, and scanning the environment. They help students use landmarks, sounds, and surface cues to stay oriented, practice routes within school, and develop safe strategies for navigating community settings. This collaborative, skill-specific work directly supports independence and safety in daily travel.

Occupational therapists focus on daily living tasks such as dressing, feeding, and self-care. Physical therapists address gross motor skills, strength, balance, and general movement but not the specialized navigation skills for visually impaired travel. Adaptive physical education specialists adapt PE activities to accommodate disabilities and promote physical participation, not specifically instruction in travel safety.