Omnipotent October
Omnipotent is one of our favorite “O” words, and it helps us to celebrate the month of October with alliteration. Omnipotent means “all-powerful,” and we recognize that none of us can (or even want to be) all-powerful. Nevertheless, we all could use a bit more power at times.
October brings us many blindness-related month and day recognitions, including:
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- World Blindness Awareness Month
- Blind Equality Achievement Month
- October 15:
- White Cane Awareness Day
- White Cane Safety Day
- Blind Americans Equality Day
- And, in the United Kingdom, they celebrate National Braille Awareness Week October 9-15 this year!
This month, we are so excited to highlight information and tools that empower blind/low vision individuals – taking a step toward Omnipotence!
- October 1: Harnessing Information Using Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with David De Notaris
- October 8: Advocacy Information and Resources
- October 15: White Cane Information and Resources
- October 22: Braille Information and Resources
- October 29: Employment Information and Resources
This week, we share advocacy and information resources and for blind/low vision students and young adults. Remember, advocacy is a great way of raising awareness every day – especially during Blindness Awareness Month!
White Cane Information and Resources in the Bridges Resource Library
Background information
History of the White Cane and White Cane Safety Day/White Cane Awareness Day entry
Free Materials from the National Federation of the Blind entry
Maryland-Specific Laws Controlling Braille and Orientation and Mobility Assessments and Instruction entry
Rights of White Cane Users
White Cane User Rights entry
White Cane User Rights in Maryland Reference Sheet entry
Rights When Traveling by Air entry
Resources about using a white cane
Useful Apps for Navigation: Google Maps and Blind Square entry
Maryland’s Division of Rehabilitation Services and Office of Blindness & Vision Services entry
Additional White Cane Information and Resources
Legal requirements for Orientation and Mobility instruction in K-12 schools in Maryland
Orientation and Mobility (OEM) Assessment Guidelines, Maryland Technical Assistance Bulletin 18-03, includes:
- Assessments
- Requirements to be recognized as a valid instructor assessor
- Required elements of every O&M assessment
- Instruction
- Requirements to be recognized as a valid instructor
- Appropriate elements of O&M instruction
- Appropriate locations for O&M instruction
Using a white cane in a wheelchair
From Tumbles to Triumphs: Using a Cane from a Wheelchair article
Assessment tools (can use as self-assessment tools, too!)
Orientation and Mobility Assessment Checklist
NMSBVI (New Mexico) Orientation & Mobility Inventory Checklist
Structured Discovery Cane Travel Instruction
A Q&A about Structured Discovery Cane Travel
3 Key Elements of Structured Discovery Cane Travel (blog post by Jennifer Kennedy, NOMCT)
More background
Traveling Blind: Orientation and Mobility YouTube video
Orientation and Mobility on the MSB TVI Portal Maryland site
Cane Travel (from APH’s ConnectCenter)
Reach Out to Us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk anytime!
Please check out the Bridges Technical Assistance Center Resource Library today!
Contact us
Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@IMAGEmd.org
- Text or Leave a Voice mail message: (410) 357-1546
- Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page or Facebook Messenger
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson.