Looking for the best Professional Development for Orientation and Mobility Specialists? From O&M conferences to CEU workshops, this episode covers the top 5 sources of Professional Development Opportunities to advance your career and networking opportunities.
💡 In This Episode:
Why Professional Development Matters for O&Ms:
Learn why attending symposiums and networking with researchers, professors, and peers is critical for moving your career forward.
Top 5 Sources for O&M PD:
Discover the five O&M PD resources where you can find quality information and strategies.
Online vs. In-Person Conferences:
Explore the pros and cons of in-person networking versus the convenience of online learning.
Strategic Career Growth:
Learn how to select training that addresses your current caseload needs, whether it's for CVI, adults, or deafblind students, and how to invest time in yourself to become the O&M Specialist your students deserve.
📚 Free Resources:
► Night Travel Skills PDF (For O&M Specialists): Get a comprehensive guide to help you teach night travel lessons effectively. (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/nigh-travel-essential-tools-resource)
► 5 Key Strategies Every Teacher Needs (For Classroom Teachers): A free PDF with five simple, quick things you can do right now to impact the lives of your learners with visual impairments. (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/5keys)
► FREE SEE Community Membership (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/)
📅 ACADEMIC CALENDAR:
January 28-30, 2026 | International Orientation & Mobility Online Symposium | Conference for O&M Specialists https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos)
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, educator, or advocate for special education and inclusive education, this video will help you stay informed about the latest strategies to help your students with visual impairments.
Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL ICON 🔔 so you never miss out on our latest content and updates on education!
📢 Join the Conversation!Have questions or tips of your own? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about it.
⬇️Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video!
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18 Nov 2025
How to become an Orientation and Mobility Specialist?
Ready for an Orientation and Mobility career? Learn how to become an O&M Specialist, explore university programs and career pathways, and discover what it takes to teach visually impaired students to travel safely and independently.
We'll break down the steps to enter one of the most rewarding professions in visual impairment education. From choosing a university program to understanding the different teaching philosophies, we cover everything you need to know about a career in Orientation and Mobility (O&M).
💡 In This Episode:
Two Paths to Your O&M Career: Discover the two main routes to becoming an O&M specialist.
O&M Certifications: Understand the crucial differences between the two main O&M philosophies and certifications.
A Day in the Life of an O&M Specialist: What does this job actually look like?
The Tools of the Trade: Learn why teaching methodologies differ, from the use of blindfolds to the type of long cane used.
Full-time or Itinerant? Finding the Right Fit: Explore the pros and cons of being a full-time school district employee versus a contract O&M specialist.
Resources mentioned in this video:
► List of Universities with Programs for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments: https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/blog/list-of-universities-with-programs-for-teachers-of-students-with-visual-impairments (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/blog/list-of-universities-with-programs-for-teachers-of-students-with-visual-impairments)
► International Orientation & Mobility Online Symposium | Conference for O&M Specialists: https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos)
📚 Free Resources:
► Night Travel Skills PDF (For O&M Specialists): Get a comprehensive guide to help you teach night travel lessons effectively. (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/nigh-travel-essential-tools-resource)
► 5 Key Strategies Every Teacher Needs (For Classroom Teachers): A free PDF with five simple, quick things you can do right now to impact the lives of your learners with visual impairments. (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/5keys)
► FREE SEE Community Membership (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/)
📅 ACADEMIC CALENDAR:
January 28-30, 2026 | International Orientation & Mobility Online Symposium | Conference for O&M Specialists https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos)
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, educator, or advocate for special education and inclusive education, this video will help you stay informed about the latest strategies to help your students with visual impairments.
Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL ICON 🔔 so you never miss out on our latest content and updates on education!
📢 Join the Conversation!Have questions or tips of your own? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about it.
⬇️Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video!
👋💌 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:
https://www.facebook.com/exceptionaleducators.us (https://www.facebook.com/exceptionaleducators.us)
https://www.instagram.com/exceptionaleducators.us (https://www.instagram.com/exceptionaleducators.us)
https://linkedin.com/company/exceptionaleducators-us (https://linkedin.com/company/exceptionaleducators-us)
11 Nov 2025
The Importance of Orientation and Mobility
Discover the importance of Orientation and Mobility (O&M), the essential training for independence for individuals with visual impairments.
In this new series we'll go through everything we need to know about Orientation and Mobility, so let's start off by discussing it's importance to not just our students with visual impairments but also in society.
💡 In This Episode:
What is Orientation and Mobility?: Learn the core definition.
The Philosophy of O&M Teaching: Discover how O&M specialists do more than just give step-by-step instructions.
A Global & Individualized Approach: Learn how training is adapted to individual and cultural needs.
The Transformational Power of Movement: Understand the profound concept that "how you move is how you experience life."
📚 Free Resources:
► Night Travel Skills PDF (For O&M Specialists): Get a comprehensive guide to help you teach night travel lessons effectively. (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/nigh-travel-essential-tools-resource)
► 5 Key Strategies Every Teacher Needs (For Classroom Teachers): A free PDF with five simple, quick things you can do right now to impact the lives of your learners with visual impairments. (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/5keys)
► FREE SEE Community Membership (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/)
📅 ACADEMIC CALENDAR:
January 28-30, 2026 | International Orientation & Mobility Online Symposium | Conference for O&M Specialists https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos (https://www.exceptionaleducators.us/iomos)
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, educator, or advocate for special education and inclusive education, this video will help you stay informed about the latest strategies to help your students with visual impairments.
Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the BELL ICON 🔔 so you never miss out on our latest content and updates on education!
📢 Join the Conversation!Have questions or tips of your own? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about it.
⬇️Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video!
👋💌 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:
https://www.facebook.com/exceptionaleducators.us (https://www.facebook.com/exceptionaleducators.us)
https://www.instagram.com/exceptionaleducators.us (https://www.instagram.com/exceptionaleducators.us)
https://linkedin.com/company/exceptionaleducators-us (https://linkedin.com/company/exceptionaleducators-us)
Inside a recent episode
Episode 38. A Person Centered Approach in a Virtual World with Dr. Amy Parker
Published 14 Jul 2020 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And that's actually when I came into the program to help implement it. The program was launched through an effort with Dr. Holly Lawson, who's my colleague at Portland State University. And also Catherine Botsford, Dr. Catherine Botsford. They co -wrote a grant to bring an orientation and mobility program to the long -standing teacher of the visually impaired program that has been at Portland State for well over 50 years. But many people before Holly had also wanted an orientation and mobility program. The region wanted to have that available to the states. They were hungry for it. There had been previous instances where Salis University had come out and done partnerships in Oregon to train and prepare orientation mobility specialists, which were wonderful. […]
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