Maslow's hierarchy places safety as second in order of needs for learning. The first need is physiological - meaning we first need to trust that we're going to be fed and have a place to call home. The next most important need is safety. We all need to feel safe to achieve our potential. Blind toddlers who cannot see where they are going are inherently unsafe. Each time blind toddlers take independent steps, they are at risk for an unavoidable collision.
This presentation will present Ambrose-Zaken's Theory Safe Mobility is Essential to Achieve Developmental potential, the results of a study of 385 learners with visual impairments, motor delays, and the results of multiple studies demonstrating how wearing pediatric belt canes significantly improved motor and other learning outcomes in toddler and preschool children born blind and mobility visually impaired.

Participants will:
1. Be able to discuss the relationship between safe mobility and achieving developmental milestones in children with congenital visual impairments.
2. Understand that the gross motor milestone delays commonly reported in children born blind and visually impaired are preventable.
3. Understand that there is no benefit to walking without safe mobility for toddlers who are blind and mobility visually impaired and that means they need to wear their canes all day, everyday - so they are not exposed to frequent unavoidable and harmful collisions.


Presented by Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, COMS.

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