BRS Orientation & Mobility Instruction 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which street crossing type requires the MOST complex O&M instruction due to unpredictable vehicle movements?
- Signalized perpendicular intersection
- Roundabout or traffic circle (Correct answer)
- Mid-block crosswalk with pedestrian signal
- T-intersection with stop signs
Correct answer: Roundabout or traffic circle
Roundabouts have continuously yielding, circulating traffic with no defined stop phases, making them the most challenging crossing type for individuals with visual impairments.
Question 2: The term 'veering' in O&M refers to:
- Intentionally changing direction using a landmark
- Unintentional deviation from a straight line of travel (Correct answer)
- A technique for navigating curved pathways
- Turning sharply at intersections to align with the crosswalk
Correct answer: Unintentional deviation from a straight line of travel
Veering is the tendency to drift off a straight path unintentionally, often due to subtle asymmetries in gait or limb dominance.
Question 3: When working with a client who has a visual field loss in the left hemifield, the O&M specialist should train the client to:
- Always walk with a sighted guide on the right side
- Use systematic head scanning to compensate for the missing field (Correct answer)
- Rely solely on the white cane on the affected side
- Avoid traveling in environments with traffic on the left
Correct answer: Use systematic head scanning to compensate for the missing field
Systematic head-turn scanning compensates for hemi-field loss by actively bringing objects into the intact visual field.
Question 4: An Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) provides information through which modality combination?
- Visual and tactile only
- Auditory and tactile (vibrotactile) (Correct answer)
- Auditory and visual only
- Tactile and olfactory
Correct answer: Auditory and tactile (vibrotactile)
APS devices communicate walk/don't walk information through auditory tones or speech AND vibrotactile feedback through the push-button housing.
Question 5: A client with low vision reports difficulty detecting curb drops at night. The MOST appropriate O&M recommendation is to:
- Discontinue night travel until vision improves
- Combine a white cane with preferred lighting devices for low-light conditions (Correct answer)
- Increase eyeglass prescription strength for night use
- Only travel in environments with street lighting above 500 lux
Correct answer: Combine a white cane with preferred lighting devices for low-light conditions
Combining a long white cane with an illumination device (e.g., flashlight or wearable light) addresses both tactile detection and visual enhancement in low-light conditions.
Question 6: Which cognitive concept is MOST critical for a client to understand before beginning route travel training?
- Cardinal directions (N/S/E/W)
- The concept of a 'mental map' or cognitive map (Correct answer)
- Traffic signal timing sequences
- Building numbering systems
Correct answer: The concept of a 'mental map' or cognitive map
A cognitive or mental map is the internal spatial representation that allows a traveler to understand their position relative to the environment and plan routes.
Question 7: During O&M training at a bus stop, the client cannot determine which bus has arrived. The BEST strategy to teach is:
- Wait for other passengers to board first, then follow
- Proactively ask the driver or nearby passengers to confirm the bus number/route (Correct answer)
- Use a smartphone app that tracks real-time bus arrivals
- Stand near the front of the bus stop for faster boarding
Correct answer: Proactively ask the driver or nearby passengers to confirm the bus number/route
Directly asking the driver or a nearby person is the most reliable and immediately accessible strategy for confirming bus identification.
BRS Orientation & Mobility Instruction 3
Which street crossing type requires the MOST complex O&M instruction due to unpredictable vehicle movements?