Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Practitioner

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as an Orientation and Mobility O&M Practitioner. An Orientation and Mobility Practitioner assesses, plans, designs, develops, implements, and evaluates individualised O&M programmes for persons with visual impairments to enhance their lives in terms of orientation, mobility, and activities of daily living. Typical graduate attributes of an Orientation and Mobility Practitioner are the following, but not limited to deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth, analytical and critical thinking, intuitive, adaptive, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. A qualified learner will be able to: • Conduct assessments of persons with visual impairments to determine their capability levels and needs. • Design and develop O&M individual training programmes. • Implement and evaluate O&M individual training programmes. • Establish and maintain networks with stakeholders, including other professionals. • Advocate with and on behalf of persons with visual impairments for their rights and needs to be met.

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services have increasingly become critical in society. There is a substantial demand for qualified practitioners to meet the needs of the blind or visually impaired persons or those with other disabilities of all ages in South African society locally, regionally and nationally. Currently, the number of blind or visually impaired individuals outweighs the number of qualified O&M personnel available, hence, there is a need for the qualification to address a critical shortage of qualified O&M Practitioners to teach the blind or visually impaired individuals. The registered qualification (SAQA ID: 67373, National Diploma: Orientation and Mobility Practice, NQF Level 5, 240 Credits) does not meet the needs of the industry fully; hence there was an expressed need by the industry to replace this qualification to address the relevant knowledge and competencies required for Orientation and Mobility Practitioners to effectively function in the occupation. This qualification is aimed at those who want to work in an O&M professional setting to assist those who are blind or visually impaired individuals to travel with confidence and attain their goal of becoming safe, efficient, and independent travellers. This qualification will equip learners with the knowledge and skills to deliver quality services to individuals with vision impairments, significantly enhancing their quality of life and enabling them to attain systematic orientation to safe movement within their home, school, and community environments. Qualified O&M Practitioners will, amongst others, demonstrate professional competency to assess, instruct, and collaborate with other service providers or professionals and advocate with and on behalf of individuals with visual impairments. Qualified learners may gain employment opportunities in non-profit organisations, government institutions, institutions of learning, rehabilitation agencies, and healthcare settings, such as hospitals (private or public) as consultants or independent contractors. No licensing or membership requirements to practice applies to this qualification. This entry-level qualification in the O&M field will provide a learning pathway and progression to an Audiologist and O&M Specialist/Optometrist occupation.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): • RPL for Access to Training/Exemption: Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider, which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access based on the NQF level descriptors. For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. • RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) or Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA): Learners, who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved. For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence. Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO. Entry Requirements: • An NQF Level 4 qualification.

• Conduct assessments of persons with visual impairments to determine their capability levels and needs.
• Design and develop O&M individual training programmes.
• Implement and evaluate O&M individual training programmes.
• Review and establish networks with stakeholders, including other professionals.
• Advocate with and on behalf of persons with visual impairments for their rights and needs to be met.