Orientation and mobility is that part of the educational process that prepares the student to travel independently. The itinerant O&M specialist travels to the students’ assigned schools and/or home to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss for multiple districts within Galveston County served by a shared service arrangement. The O&M specialist is prepared to provide service to an array of students including infants, students with low vision and/or multiple impairments. These services enable the students to travel safely and independently in their home, school, and community environments; Specific instruction is based on appropriate evaluation of the student and services are designed specifically to the student. The students range in age from birth to 21 and have singular or multiple impairments. The cognitive levels of the students range from severely impaired to gifted and talented. Many students with visual impairments are totally mainstreamed in their home schools, while others are in special programs in their home schools or at various campuses throughout the district. Community-based instruction is a critical component of the O&M program.
