PULAU PINANG, 30 NOV: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), through the School Of Educational Studies is planning to introduce a special diploma programme to produce qualified trainers in ‘Orientation and Mobility’.
It will be the first academic programme in the field of ‘Orientation and Mobility’ in Malaysia and has the potential to help the blind and visually impaired to go about their daily lives more safely.
Dato’ S. Kulasegaran from Malaysian Association for the Blind said that the diploma will be offered with the collaboration of the School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Vision Australia, a non-governmental organization involved in helping the blind.
"We are currently in the discussion stage and this programme is expected to be offered in 2013. We are also identifying a university in Australia to help us in curriculum development for the programme", he said while chairing a media conference at the ‘Strengthening Specific Skills for the Blind and Visually Impaired’ Workshop at the Conference Room, School of Educational Studies, USM.
He added that this programme is expected to make Malaysia the hub for training and producing more ‘Orientation and Mobility’ trainers who are needed worldwide.
Prior to that, Assoc. Prof. Shuki Osman launched the 14-day workshop, starting today, to train and enhance the expertise of those working directly with the blind and visually impaired.
A total of 35 participants nationwide, representing both governmental bodies and NGOs were involved in the workshop, held for the first time. They will be trained by two experts from Vision Australia.
Orientation and Mobility refers to the way the blind and the visually impaired move about in their surroundings so that they can be independent in normal, everyday situations.
Besides, this workshop will provide training on five aspects related to ‘Orientation and Mobility’ including daily life skills, Braille, social and communication skills, career guidance and counseling for those who have just begun to face problems with their vision and their families as well.
Also present at the event were Programme Chairperson (Special Education), School of Educational Studies, USM and workshop co-chairman, Assoc. Prof. Lee Lay Wah; and Mr. Ivan Ho, a representative of the Malaysian Association for the Blind.
