The SET-BC / PRCVI Accessible GPS Project 2010
The SET-BC / PRCVI Accessible GPS Project has now completed its fourth year. The purpose of the Project is to provide blind and visually impaired students in British Columbia with a tool for independent travel.
Accessible GPS systems were loaned to Orientation and Mobility Instructors in BC for use with students. This year there were 8 O&M Instructors involved in the project. Of those, four provided instruction to students in the Lower Mainland, one provided instruction to students on Vancouver Island, two provided instruction to students in the Okanagan and one provided service to students in the Kootenays. Each O&M Instructor decided which students they teach, would benefit from the information provided by the GPS system. The students ranged in age from 10 – 17 years old. During the project, there were approximately 15 students who were learning independent travel skills through the use of the GPS systems provided by SET-BC / PRCVI.
O&M Instructors chose one of two accessible GPS systems. The first was the Trekker Pro. It is a full featured system designed for older students who are learning to travel independently in their community by creating their own routes. The second unit was the Trekker Breeze. It is used with younger students. The Breeze has fewer features and is not designed for independent street travel.
Activities this year included the development of a Trekker Breeze training manual as well as a full day of training. Also, a networking website was developed so that students and O&M Instructors could share experiences, ask questions and keep in touch with each other. There were plans underway to include accessible GPS activities in a Sports Days for visually impaired students around the province. This would provide information to students, parents and professionals about the benefits of accessible GPS. It is hoped that this will result in more students participating in the project in the future, thereby increasing the independent travel abilities of students in BC who are blind or visually impaired.
For more information on the Accessible GPS Project 2010, please contact Dave Rathwell at drathwell@setbc.org.