Consumers seeking O&M services should first contact their social rehabilitation or vocational rehabilitation counselor to initiate a referral.
O&M services may include obtaining an O&M Clearance Form from the consumer’s medical provider. Through the use of an O&M Clearance Form, COMS take into consideration input from the consumer’s medical provider when developing a training program.
Instruction begins with an assessment of the consumer’s travel needs, motivation, and visual and physical abilities.
Based upon this assessment, a training program is developed with goal-directed instruction
to maximize safety and independence.
For the more experienced traveler, training may focus on providing orientation to a new environment, such as a home, workplace, or college campus.
In addition to the long white cane, COMS can provide a support cane for assistance in detecting inclines and obstacles in pathways.
MCB provides one free white cane to each consumer. Consumers should contact their counselor for information on how to purchase additional or replacement canes.
Consultation Services
MCB’s O&M Department also offers consultation services to families and other professionals on issues such as:
- Advocacy
- Accessibility issues such as accessible pedestrian signals, safe travel routes, and environmental barriers which impact pedestrians who are legally blind
- In-service training on human guide and blindness etiquette to professionals, such as employers, senior centers, assistive living residences, group homes, etc.
Dog Guides
O&M training is an essential part of preparing people who are legally blind to be
successfully partnered with a dog guide. MCB does not provide dog guides, but our counselors can assist with connecting interested consumers with resources. After a consumer is paired
with a dog guide, COMS are available to provide route orientation.
Massachusetts General Laws Related to White Canes and Dog Guides
Chapter 90, Section 14A: Protection of blind pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross ways
Section 14A. Whenever a totally or partially blind pedestrian, guided by a guide dog or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red, crosses or attempts to cross a way, the driver of every vehicle approaching the place where such pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross shall bring his vehicle to a full stop, and before proceeding shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring such pedestrian. A person who owns an animal shall restrain and control such animal on a leash when in proximity to a guide dog that is on a public or private way. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to deprive any totally or partially blind person, not carrying such a cane or walking stick or not being guided by a dog, of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing ways, nor shall the failure of such blind person to carry a cane or walking stick or to be guided by a guide dog while on the ways of this commonwealth be held to constitute or be evidence of contributory negligence. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of no less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars.
Chapter 272, Section 98A: Physically handicapped persons with dog guides; public places or conveyances; charges or fares; penalties
Section 98A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any blind person, or deaf or hearing handicapped person, or other physically handicapped person accompanied by a dog guide, shall be entitled to any and all accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public conveyances, public amusements and places of public accommodation, within the commonwealth, to which persons not accompanied by dogs are entitled, subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all persons not accompanied by dogs, and no such blind person, or deaf or hearing handicapped, or other physically handicapped person shall be required to pay any charge or fare for or on account of the transportation on any public conveyance for himself and such dog so accompanying him in addition to the charge or fare lawfully chargeable for his own transportation. Whoever deprives any blind person, or deaf or hearing handicapped person, or other physically handicapped person of any right conferred by this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars and shall be liable to any person aggrieved thereby for such damages as are set forth in section five of chapter one hundred and fifty-one B; provided, however, that such civic forfeiture shall be of an amount not less than one hundred dollars.