ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY
Products, Services, and Information Sources
Click on the name of a section to go there.
Accessign International
mail: 21016 45th Ave. S.E., Bothell, WA 98021 U.S.A.
internet: http://accessign.com/
e-mail: signman@gte.net
fax: 425-483-6821
voice: 888-539-2777
"Wayfinding systems for the Real World"
accessstore.com
mail: 820 West Seventh Street, Chico, CA 95928 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.accessstore.com/
fax: 530-893-1560
voice and TTY: 530-893-1596; 800-301-1652
"Products for barrier free environments". They sell signs with braille for public places, in many standard shapes.
Garnet Accubraille
mail: 30 Cleveland Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 U.S.A.
voice: 415-863-8450
Makes and sells Braille signage for elevators.
Media Incorporated
internet: http://www.media-ada.com
e-mail: info@media-ada.com
"Innovator of tactile braille signage"
Micro Overflow
mail: 1665 Quincy Avenue, Suite 147, Naperville, IL 60540 U.S.A.
e-mail: djdalton@mcs.net
fax: 630-357-6006
voice: 630-778-4080
They are in the final stages of development of a speaking product that will provide navigation for the blind in public buildings, meant to replace braille signage.
Perspectives: Total Accessibility Specialists
internet: http://ourworld. compuserve/homepages/perspectives
e-mail: perspectives@compuserve.com
voice and fax: 207-772-7305
Sells a machine to stamp braille symbols onto currency, and braille signage.
Prose and Cons Braille Unit
mail: P.O. Box 2500, Lincoln, NE 68542-2500
fax: 402-471-3472
voice: 402-471-3161 x3373
This transcription service will provide braille signage.
Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Center
mail: 2232 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.ski.org/RERC
voice: 415-561-1620, 415-561-1619
Does research and development of sensory aids and talking signs.
Special Signs and Symbols
mail: 4550 Ironstone Cirlce, Orlando, FL 32812
e-mail: mac11132@aol.com
voice: 407-282-3583
"One of the world's largest suppliers of elevator braille plates and related signage."
Tactile Signage
mail: 6360 Parkcreek Circle, Citrus Heights, CA 95621 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.rnrs.com/tactile/
e-mail: tactile@rnrs.com
fax: 916-965-0199
voice: 916-967-6050
"We are a full service sign fabricator located in Northern California. Our Raised Letter, and Braille (tactile) Signage is designed for easy readability and our detectable warnings are designed to save the lives of the visually impaired."
Talking Signs
mail: 812 N. Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.talkingsigns.com
e-mail: info@talkingsigns.com
fax: 504-344-2811
voice: 888-825-5746
Infrared remote signage.
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Dog Guide Information and Products
Dog Guides Information
internet: http://www.dogguides.info
Eames, Dr. Edwin
mail: 3376 North Wilson, Fresno, CA 93704 U.S.A.
Book A Guide to Guide Dog Schools in regular print, disc, or audio cassette.
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
mail: 371 East Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.guidedog.org
voice: 800-548-4337, 516-265-2121
Has a catalog "Second Sight Shop" of stationery and gift items featuring their dogs.
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
mail: 14311 Astrodome Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20906-2245 U.S.A.
e-mail: jcsheehan@smart.net
voice: 301-598-2131
They have a catalog of products for dog guides and people who use them, and a list of dog guides schools in the U.S.A. Magazines: Dog Fancy, monthly on audio cassette; and Paw Tracks, quarterly on audio cassette about dog guide schools. The catalog is available in large print, audio cassette, IBM diskette, and e-mail.
Law for Users of Dog Guides
internet: http://www.msnbc.com/onair/nbc/dateline/guides/maptext.asp
This web site lists access laws by state.
Leader Dogs for the Blind
mail: P.O. Box 5000, Rochester, MI 48037 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.leaderdog.org
e-mail: ldftb@ix.netcom.com
fax: 248-651-5812
voice: 888-777-5332, 248-651-9011
Publishes a book for O&M instructors to help them orient dog users to new environments.
Raspberry Field, The
mail: P.O. Box 771, Gresham, OR 97030 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.raspberryfield.com/
e-mail: info@raspberryfield.com
fax: 503-491-0428
voice: 503-665-0458
Sells leashes and capes for assistance dogs.
Wolf Packs
internet: http://www.wolfpacks.com
e-mail: traildog@wolfpacks.com
Sells equipment for assistance dogs, including: back packs, collapsible water dishes, "Don't Pet Me" patches, boots, nylon collars, and ID capes.
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Bioptic Driving
internet: http://www.BiopticDriving.org and http://www.BiopticDriving.org.uk
"We are a non-profit organization founded in 2001 to serve the needs and interests of those with stable low vision who may be able to drive with a BTS."
Gottlieb Vision Group
mail: 5462 Memorial Drive, Suite 101, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.mindspring.com/~gottlieb/book.htm
voice: 800-666-7484, 404-296-6000
Book Living with Vision Loss: Independence, Driving, and Low Vision Solutions.
Low Vision Centers of Indiana
internet: http://www.eyeassociates.com/biopticI.htm
Good information on bioptic driving systems and resources.
Vision Loss Technology
mail: 4619 93rd Street, Lubbock, TX 79424
voice: 806-794-6387
Publishes the book Driving with Telescopic Glasses, available in large print, standard print, and audio cassette.
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American Printing House for the Blind [APH]
mail: P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.aph.org/
e-mail: info@aph.org
fax: 502-899-2274
voice: 800-223-1839, 800-572-0844, 502-895-2405
Sells (for cash, P.O., or federal quota funds) a portable sound source, among other products.
Brennan, Tom
internet: http://titan.sfasu.edu/~g_brennantg/etas.html
This gentleman's web site provides electronic versions of the manuals for electronic travels devices, so you can read them when deciding if you want to buy a device.
BRYTECH, Inc.
mail: Box 8823, Ottawa, ON K1G 3J2 CANADA
e-mail: inquiries@brytech.com
fax: 613-731-5812
voice: 613-731-5800
"Sensory 6" electronic mobility device. Also, the "Note Teller" which identifies the denomination of U.S. currency in English, in Spanish, or tactually (for the deafblind).
Dynamic Living, Inc.
mail: P.O. Box 370249, West Hartford CT 06137-0249 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.dynamic-living.com/motion_detector.htm
e-mail: info@dynamic-living.com
voice: 888-940-0605
The "MotionPAD" holds up to 10 seconds of recorded voice message, and then plays the message when motion is detected.
"Guidecane"
internet: http://www.engin.umich.edu/research/mrl/43Guide.html
This device is being developed at the University of Michigan in the U.S.A.
Haptica
mail: The Tower, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, IRELAND
internet: http://www.haptica.com/
e-mail: info@haptica.com
fax: +353 (0)1-677-5487
voice: +353 (0)1-635-9775
Sells the "smartWalker" or "PAM-AID".
HumanWare
mail: 6245 King Road, Loomis, CA 95650 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.humanware.com
e-mail: info@humanware.com
fax: 916-652-7296
voice: 800-722-3393, 916-652-7253
Sells the "Mowat Sensor" and "SonicGuide" electronic travel devices, among other items.
Maxi Aids
mail: P.O. Box 3209, Farmingdale, NY 11735 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.maxiaids.com
e-mail: sales@maxiaids.com
fax: 516-752-0689
TTY: 516-752-0738
voice: 800-522-6294, 516-752-0521
They carry a "Location Finder", and describe it this way: "Find your house, apartment, or office quickly & easily with this portable, lightweight location finder. Secured on handy key-chain, for easy access. Just press transmitter and external siren will sound alerting you to location."
"Miniguide"
internet: http://users.senet.com.au/~gphillip/ultra.htm
A small ultrasonic mobility device, like the old "Mowat Sensor".
Nurion Industries
mail: Station Square Building 2, Paoli, PA 19301 U.S.A.
e-mail: nurionray@aol.com
fax: 610-647-2216
voice: 610-640-2345
Manufactures and sells the "Laser Cane", "Polaron", and "Wheelchair Pathfinder" electronic travel devices.
Perceptual Alternatives
mail: 40 Rowan Street, Doncaster East, Victoria 3109 AUSTRALIA
internet: http://ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au/~heyes/
e-mail: t.heyes@optometry.unimelb.edu.au
fax: +61 3 98 40 65 42
voice: +61 3 98 48 96 94
Electronic travel aids, including the Sonic Pathfinder.
Robotron Pty. Ltd.
mail: 222 St. Kilda Road, St. Kilda 3182 AUSTRALIA
internet: http://www.robotron.net.au
e-mail: info@robotron.net.au
fax: (03) 9525 5300
voice: (03) 9525 3560
Sells the "Aria" braille palmtop computer and "Columbus" talking compass, along with other technology products for persons with visual impairments.
Royal National Institute for the Blind -- Joint Mobility Project
mail: 224 Great Portland Street, London W1N 6AA UNITED KINGDOM
voice: 0171 388 1266 OR : 0171 388 7747
Book Electronic Mobility Devices and Wayfinding Aids for Blind and Partially Sighted People, by Rundle and Whitney, 1996. "MoBIC" is a research project to develop a trip planning database with speech output, based on global positioning satellites.
Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Center
mail: 2232 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.ski.org/RERC
voice: 415-561-1620, 415-561-1619
Does research and development of sensory aids and talking signs.
SonicVision, Ltd.
internet: http://www.sonicvision.co.nz
e-mail: inquiries@sonicvision.co.nz
Research and development of ultrasonic imaging technology, including the KASPA navigation tool for the blind.
Techno-Vision Systems, Ltd.
mail: 76 Bunting Road Ind. Est., Northampton NN2 6EE ENGLAND
internet: http://www.techno-vision.co.uk
e-mail: info@techno-vision.co.uk
fax: +44 (0) 1604 792726
voice: +44 (0) 1604 792777
Sells computer products designed for persons with visual impairments, including the "Columbus" talking compass.
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"Travel Training" is an instructional discipline in which consumers with disabilities other than visual impairment receive instruction in the use of public transportation systems.
Access Board
internet: http://www.access-board.gov/links/transportation.htm
This is the transportation resources page from the federal government's access board.
Association of Travel Instruction
internet: http://www.travelinstruction.org/index.html
Disability.gov
internet: http://www.disability.gov/transportation
This is a resource page from the federal government.
Community Transportation Association of America
internet: http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=23&z=2
National Association of Special Education Teachers
internet: http://www.naset.org/traveltrain2.0.html
This is their article that describes the curriculum for travel training.
United States Department of Agriculture
internet: http://ric.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=5&tax_level=2&tax_subject=211&topic_id=1170
This is their page for information on rural travel.
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American Foundation for the Blind [AFB]
mail: 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10117-1614 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.afb.org
e-mail: afbinfo@afb.org
voice: 800-232-5463, 212-502-7661
Has several books for O&M professionals.
American Printing House for the Blind [APH]
mail: P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.aph.org/
e-mail: info@aph.org
fax: 502-899-2274
voice: 800-223-1839, 800-572-0844, 502-895-2405
Sells (for cash, P.O., or federal quota funds) a kit for making tactile maps, a collection of national maps, and a portable sound source, among other products.
Apothecary Products, Inc.
mail: 11531 Rupp Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337 U.S.A.
voice: 612-890-1940
They sell a blindfold.
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired [AER]
mail: P.O. Box 22397, Alexandria, VA 22304 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.aerbvi.org/welcome.htm
e-mail: aernet@laser.net
fax: 703-823-9695
voice: 703-823-9690
Sells several books for O&M instructors, V.I. teachers, and parents.
Association of Travel Instruction
internet: http://www.travelinstruction.org/index.html
This is a professional organization for travel trainers, who help people with all types of disabilities learn to travel safely and independently.
Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority
mail: 5940 South Street, Halifax, NS B3H 1S6 CANADA
fax: 902-424-0543
voice: 902-424-8500
Video on sighted guide techniques for visually impaired children and youth, $25 each.
Australian Working Group: Tactual and Large Print Mapping
mail: Mapping Science Institute - Australia, c/o Flexigraphics, 74 Shepherd Street, Chippendale, N.S.W. 2008 AUSTRALIA
voice and fax: (02) 9319 1034
This committee of volunteers works "to provide maps and graphics to sight-impaired people".
Blind Children's Center
mail: 4120 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, CA 90029 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.blindcntr.org/bcc
e-mail: info@blindcntr.org
fax: 323-665-3828
voice: 800-222-3566 outside CA; 800-222-3567 inside CA; 323-664-2153
Books on how to teach O&M to young children.
C I L Publications and Audio Books
mail: VISIONS, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.cilpubs.com
e-mail: visions@sprintmail.com
fax: 212-425-7114
voice: 888-245-8333
Curriculum packages for indoor orientation and mobility, personal management, and sensory development. There are audio tapes for the students with visual impairments and accompanying lesson plans for teachers. These were adapted for use with older adults, but may be suitable for instruction of some young adults.
Clovernook Center
mail: 7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231-5297 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.clovernook.org
e-mail: clovernook@clovernook.org
fax: 513-728-3946
voice and TTY: 513-522-3860
Publishes a book Human Guide Technique to explain sighted guide techniques.
Inegra Products
mail: 10728 18th Street, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4E2 CANADA
voice: 250-782-3380
Makes and sells: "Cook Tactile Orientation and Mobility Kit" with movable shapes on a board for making maps (plus two manuals on using it in O&M instruction).
Institute for Innovative Blind Navigation
internet: http://isd.saginaw.k12.mi.us/~mobility
e-mail: baldwin@cris.com
This is an on-line O&M book, with many chapters. Others are invited to contribute. The author is an O&M specialist.
International Mobility Center
internet: http://www.saginaw.k12.mi.us/~mobility/internat.htm
The author of this web site is making a good-faith effort to provide a real service to the O&M community.
Jason & Nordic Publishers
mail: Attn: Department A, P.O. Box 441, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.nb.net/~turtlbks/index.html
email: turtlbks@nb.net
fax: 814-696-4250
voice: 814-696-2920
Book The Night Search, a braille and print book about a young girl learning to use her long cane.
Katan Publications
mail: 1019 West Lafayette Avenue, Jacksonville, IL 62650 U.S.A.
voice: 217-243-3029
Books The Road to Freedom: A Parent's Guide to Prepare the Blind Child to Travel Independently and Orientation and Mobility Training for the Deaf-Blind.
Lab Safety Supple, Inc.
mail: P.O. Box 1368, Janesville, WI 53547 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.labsafety.com
voice: 800-356-0783
Among the many safety products they sell are non-skip adhesive tapes for marking the ground, and adhesive tapes that glow in the dark.
Lighthouse International
mail: 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.lighthouse.org
e-mail: info@lighthouse.org
TTY: 212-821-9713
voice: 800-334-5497, 212-821-9200
Booklets Factsheet on Optical Devices and ADA Accessibility Guidelines: Provisions for People with Impaired Vision.
Mattingly International
mail: 938-K Andreasen Drive, Escondido, CA 92029 U.S.A.
fax: 800-368-4111
voice: 800-826-4200, 619-741-0767
Sells monoculars, magnifiers, and other optical devices for consumers and professionals. Will only sell to companies via purchase order.
Mindfold, Inc.
mail: 8043 East 7th Street, Tucson, AZ 85710 U.S.A.
e-mail: bymindfold@aol.com
voice: 888-705-3805
Carry large, plastic blindfolds that have foam around the edges to provide room to blink and keep your eyes open while wearing them.
Mostly Mobility
mail: 7100 Route 183, Bethel, PA 19507 U.S.A.
e-mail: golds2@ix.netcom.com
voice and fax: 717-933-5681
Book Travel Tales: a Mobility Storybook, about a blind boy as he travels around town. $22
National Center for Vision and Child Development
mail: Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022 U.S.A.
TTY: 212-821-9713
voice: 800-334-5497, 212-821-9200
Book Pathways to Independence: Orientation and Mobility Skills for Your Infant and Toddler (in English and Spanish) by B. O'Mara. Also EnVision, Spring 1993, a newsletter issue which covered designing environments for children with visual impairments.
NICHCY
internet: http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY PUBS/ts9.pdf
This center for the dissemination of information on children with disabilities has an article that describe travel training.
NoIR Medical, Inc.
mail: P.O. Box 159, South Lyon, MI 48178 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.noir-medical.com
e-mail: info@noir-medical.com
fax: 313-769-1708
voice: 800-521-9746, 313-769-5565
Makes and sells high-quality tinted plastic lenses (wraparound, spectacle, or clip-on styles) in several colors and intensities. For adults and older children.
Parrot Software
mail: P.O. Box 250755, West Bloomfield, MI 48325 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.parrotsoftware.com
e-mail: catalog@parrotsoftware.com
fax: 248-788-3224
voice: 800-727-7681
This company's software is meant to be used by speech and language professionals. Of interest here is the program "Traffic Signs", which helps students learn to identify 50 common signs.
Right Start, The
location: 5388 Sterling Center Drive, Unit C, Westlake Village, CA 91361-4627 U.S.A.
mail: P.O. Box 1259, Camp Hill, PA 17011 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.rightstart.com
fax: 800-762-5501
voice: 800-548-8531
Their safety products for babies include hats with wide brims, cushions for furniture edges (including fireplaces and bath faucets), and many types of "baby gates".
Scottish Sensory Centre
mail: Moray House Institute of Education, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ SCOTLAND
internet: http://call-centre.cogsci.ed.ac.uk/SSC/VISPages/3/VIS390235
fax: 0131 558 6502
voice: 0131 558 6501
This web page contains notes on O&M techniques.
Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped
mail: 47 Toa Payoh Rise 298104 SINGAPORE
internet: http://www.dpa.org.sg/SAVH/mobility.htm
fax: +65 253-7191
voice: +65 251-4331
The web site has a plethora of links to other web sites related to visual impairment, including many international ones. Their orientation and mobility resources page is particularly complete, and includes much information on sighted guide techniques.
South Dakota Industries for the Blind
mail: 800 N. West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 U.S.A.
e-mail: steveb@dtgnet.com
voice: 605-367-5266 x 11
They sell a blindfold made of denim.
Special Education Exchange
internet: http://www.spedex.com
e-mail: info@spedex.com
This web site has several features of interest to the field of visual impairments, including a listing of professionals, references, resources, pamphlets, job openings, and message postings. There is good support for the O&M field.
Sunvisor Com.
mail: P.O. Box 423, Simonton, TX 77476-0423 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.neosoft.com/~sestrapp/sunvisor/default.html
voice: 281-346-1772
"The Detachable Sunvisor Shield" is a clear, flexible plastic shield which is worn as a sun visor. It blocks out 100% of UVC rays and 99.8% of UVA and UVB. It comes in three sizes, including newborn. Velcro strips make it easy to attach to a bike helmet or sweat band. Included is a brochure about protecting your eyes and skin from harmful radiation.
TravelVision Mobility Services, Inc.
mail: P.O. Box 10763, Glendale, CA 91203
internet: http://kathyz.home.mindspring.com/tags.htm
e-mail: kathyz@mindspring.com
voice: 818-551-0890
This company sells identification tags to wear out in public. There are: "Instructor, Ask me About Orientation and Mobility Training", "Student in Training" and "I'm Not Blind, I'm Partially Sighted". The cost is U.S.$5.50, which includes shipping and handling.
United States Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board [Access Board]
mail: 1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111 U.S.A.
internet: http://www.access-board.gov
e-mail: thibault@Access-Board.gov
fax: 202-272-5447
voice: 202-272-5434
Their newsletter Access Currents is available in alternative formats (braille, large print, audio cassette, computer diskette). Also has a limited edition video cassette called Design Issues for Pedestrians Who are Blind, $10.
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This page was last updated April 2, 2000.