Professionals Describe Their States’ Referral Processes for Orientation and Mobility Assessments of Children and Youths

Introduction Two hundred seventy-three teachers of students with visual impairments, orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists, and dually certified professionals completed a survey about the referral process they use to determine if an O&M assessment is warranted. Methods Participants completed an online survey in the spring of 2022. The qualitative data were analyzed using open-coding methods, and the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson two-tailed correlations in SPSS. Results Approximately 80% of participants were familiar with their U.S. state's policy on referring students for an O&M assessment. Policies ranged from mandatory assessment of all students identified as visually impaired to case-by-case decisions by each student's individualized education program (IEP) team. Student characteristics, including age of the student, presence of additional disabilities, and current mobility abilities in familiar school environments affected the referral process. Discussion Variability in the referral process used from state to state appears to affect the likelihood that students with visual impairments receive O&M assessments. Furthermore, this variability seems to affect the collaborative relationships between teachers of students with visual impairments and O&M specialists. Implications for Practitioners All vision professionals should become familiar with their state's regulations on referring students for O&M assessments. In addition, vision professionals should inform educational teams about the importance of O&M and review their referral processes to ensure decisions are based on students’ current and future needs, including in school, home, and community environments.