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Mobility training for pupils of the Royal Blind School
General background
A4.184 The Royal Blind School ( RBS) is an independent, grant-aided residential school, located at two sites in Edinburgh, Canaan Lane Campus and Craigmillar Park Campus. The Primary and secondary learning centres are based at its Craigmillar Campus. The pre-school unit (early years and nursery), known as Barrie Nursery, is based over at Canaan Campus and this Campus specialises in the education and care of multi-disabled visually impaired ( MDVI) children and young people 3.
A4.185 Approximately 125 pupils attend the school aged from to 3 to 19 years. All pupils have a severe visual impairment (varying in severity). There are currently 54 pupils at Canaan Campus and 70 at Craigmillar Campus.
A4.186 Pupils attending the RBS come from all over Scotland and North of England with a large number residing at the school, Monday to Fridays. At Craigmillar Campus, there are approximately forty pupils residing full time and approximately fifteen on a part time basis.
A4.187 The Mobility Department who are responsible for orientation and mobility training are based at Craigmillar Park campus, (also deliver training to pupils and staff throughout the school or in all areas of the school) and consists of three full time staff.
Nature of case study
A4.188 An individual programme to assist independent travel for pupils attending the RBS in Edinburgh.
Case study information
A4.189 This case study provides an overview of the mobility training provided to pupils at the RBS Craigmillar Campus. The current mobility training programme evolved approximately 9 years ago, with minor amendments being made when problems have being identified.
Main points of scheme
A4.190 The mobility training consists of six broad stages. Each stage signifies a level of 'skill' (and confidence) achieved by pupils and denotes 'boundaries' for which pupils are allowed to travel unassisted.
A4.191 It is a graded scheme whereby colour-coded passes indicate each pupil's current level of mobility independence (where they can go on their own). In some instances pupils may have covered all the work for a coloured stage but will still require staff supervision. This is indicated on their pass by an additional white band. All RBS staff are aware of the mobility training scheme and familiar with the coloured passes.
A4.192 All pupils attending RBS enter into the training scheme. It is not an age related scheme, but an ability related scheme and there may be younger pupils with a higher pass than some senior pupils, depending on individuals' abilities.
A4.193 The aim is to teach pupils to develop mobility skills and techniques to enable them to travel in a variety of outdoor environments, both on foot and using public transport modes. This is very important for children, in that it offers extra opportunity to practise and further develop skills and confidence (in moving around on their own).
A4.194 The first level of training is designed to equip pupils with 'basic' skills to allow them to move safely and confidently within an internal environment (namely the school building itself). Pupils then progress to mobility skills required for external environments (within school grounds initially) and to the use of canes.
A4.195 Pupils are then taught necessary 'outdoor skills' which begin with pavement travel in a quiet residential area (streets adjacent to the school). Pupils are also taught how to identify shops and become familiar with procedures for completing simple shopping tasks. When sufficiently skilled and confident, pupils progress to travel in busier environments. At this stage they are introduced to bus travel and learn to shop more independently. Gaining assistance and information from members of the public is an important element at this stage of training and pupils are taught how to do this in an appropriate way. Advanced mobility training, using buses and trains, along with experience of city centre travel, is taught to pupils who achieve a high degree of independence.
A4.196 At all stages, developing awareness of roads and road safety are important, on-going aspects of mobility training.
A4.197 The key stages of the mobility scheme, boundaries and key skills learned are outlines below;
White pass
A4.198 Boundaries: A white pass allows pupils to travel independently within the main school building and residential areas. This allows pupils to follow their own school timetable independently within the main school building and also to travel to/from the schools' residential areas.
A4.199 Key skills: Pre-cane skills, early route learning and mental mapping skills. Formal sighted guide techniques, appropriate to the age and ability of individual pupils are also introduced.
Yellow pass
A4.200 Boundaries: This allows pupils to travel independently within the school grounds and visit a local takeaway and a church (approx. 500m from school).
A4.201 Key skills: Pavement travel with/without cane; one simple road crossing (within school grounds); direction taking (squaring off; turning); following of shoreline to reach shops; detection and identification of shop doorways; route reversal; relevant bus stop locations.
Green pass
A4.202 Boundaries: This allows pupils to travel to/from local shops (approximately 0.5km) independently.
A4.203 Key skills: Pavement travel with/without cane; recognition and use of shorelines for location and direction; touch technique or diagonal cane outdoors; introduction to street travel; one residential street crossing (indented and crossing between parked cars); use of traffic sounds for location and direction; safe search techniques using hands; trailing when using a cane; identification and familiarisation of shops; shop counter positioning; simple shopping tasks; communicating and behaving appropriately in shops; route reversal; relevant bus stop locations.
Red pass
A4.204 Boundaries: This allows pupils to travel independently to a nearby shopping complex (Cameron Toll) either on foot or by bus, and also to visit a local library.
A4.205 Key skills: Introduction to bus travel; relevant bus stop locations; bus drill; street travel with/without cane; recognition and use of landmarks and clues for location and direction; touch technique and diagonal cane outdoors; crossing busier roads and use of audible traffic light crossings; use of traffic sounds for orientation; Shopping Centre layout familiarisation; specific shop identification; travel in congested pedestrian areas; requesting sighted assistance and/or use of Customer Services; complex shopping tasks; route reversal.
Blue pass
A4.206 Boundaries: This allows pupils to travel to the Newington area (by foot and by bus) and also to the Royal Commonwealth Swimming Pool (both approximately 2km).
A4.207 Skills involved: Further development of bus travel skills; High Street travel; complex road schemes; straight line travel; pedestrian crossings (including key and knob crossings) and use of sighted assistance for busy/difficult road crossings; consolidation of skills already learned; complex route work; familiarisation of shops; complex shopping tasks; use of public facilities; route reversal.
Black pass
A4.208 Boundaries: This allows pupils to travel to Edinburgh City centre; Kinnaird Park (an out of town shopping development) and any approved (by mobility department staff) destinations within Edinburgh, not listed above. Familiarisation of the route from the pupil's home to school is also covered.
A4.209 Skills involved: Independent city travel; introduction to, and experience of, train travel; escalators, lifts and revolving doors, complex road schemes; use of traffic for orientation; appropriate use of public for assistance; consolidation of skills already learned; complex route work; familiarisation of large stores and other public buildings; investigation, planning and travelling of independent routes; use of information services; telephone skills; observation of successful solo travel on complex (and unrehearsed and unfamiliar) route to conclude training.
Outcomes
A4.210 The key outcome of this mobility training is to equip individual pupils with the necessary skills, knowledge and techniques to travel independently in a range of external environments, and to use various public transport means.
A4.211 As soon as pupils start at this School, their mobility needs are assessed, and they automatically begin at the White stage of the pass scheme and progress through the colour stages as they reach the correct age and stage to undertake the next block of work and responsibilities that come with.
A4.212 In Primary 1, we are working on the key skills listed whilst at the same time are familiarising them with the layout of their classsroom, the routes they need to learn to access their other classes and parts of the school building, where they go for snack and lunch etc.
A4.213 By the end of this school session, it is likely that 7 or possibly 8 senior pupils will achieve their Black passes. Most of this particular group of pupils came to The Royal Blind from the age of 10 years upwards (and are sufficiently able academically to be following a mainstream curriculum) and have had on-going/regular Mobility training throughout. They are now at S4 - S6 age.
Transferability of scheme
A4.214 Although, the training program is designed specifically for pupils attending the RBS for specific journeys/locations within the Edinburgh area, feedback from both pupils (and parents) confirm that the skills learned through the mobility training provided at RBS have equipped pupils with the necessary skills to travel independently in other locations.
A4.215 At an appropriate time during mobility training, pupils are referred for home area training. It is crucial that they learn to transfer and use their mobility skills to the same level in their home area, and for this to occur close liaison with mobility specialists in pupil's home areas is essential.
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