Steve born 1947 first O&M lesson in High School

Safe Toddles Talks Orientation and Mobility

Stephen Dresser –was born in 1947, he got his first long cane in 8th grade, but he wasn’t taught to use it as a probe and just hooked it on his arm. It wasn’t until high school that he finally received O&M instruction. He remembers having to be convinced that it was possible to move through space without bruises, tripping and clunking into the world with his body.
Steve remembers having a great deal of independence in his years growing up before O&M instruction and acquiring the skills he needed to move further afield as a teenager seeking to travel further from home. He has shared many great insights into the difficulties experienced of moving about day to day before the advent of the smart phone – so many folks should be really mindful of the importance of getting children born blind access to smart phones – specifically iPhones as early as possible.
In high school, Steve had to be convinced to swing the long cane back and forth in front of him before that He relied on his feet – long toes. His resilience is remarkable, and he beat the odds. He was ready and able to benefit from the long cane and O&M instruction once he began in high school. He went on to live a rich life married and well respected in his field. Research on his generation of learners born blind showed him to be an exception- most children born blind grew up unable to benefit from O&M instruction so late in life and that is why it became essential to begin providing O&M instruction as part of early intervention. Even then it hasn’t be as effective until the advent of the pediatric belt cane.
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