Orientation and Mobility During COVID-19 and the Effect on Psychosocial Functioning

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation
• Special Education
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to specialized educational services.
• Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services are crucial for the development and independence of children with visual impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the psychosocial effects on children with visual impairments and their O&M service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To understand the experiences of O&M professionals in delivering services in-person and online during Fall 2020.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from 166 O&M specialists.
• Thematic analysis was used to code and interpret professionals' experiences and observations.

Main Results:

• Psychosocial effects significantly impacted the health, well-being, and O&M learning of children with visual impairments.
• O&M professionals encountered difficulties in providing effective instruction due to COVID-19 risks.
• Children with visual impairments experienced increased social isolation and decreased physical activity.

Conclusions:

• The shift to virtual O&M services raises questions about its long-term effectiveness for students, families, and professionals.
• The pandemic highlighted the critical role of O&M services in mitigating the isolating effects of public health measures on visually impaired children.