What type of instruction is provided through IDEA to support movement and guidance for children with visual impairments?

Orientation and Mobility instruction is specifically designed to assist children with visual impairments in navigating their environments safely and independently. This type of instruction focuses on teaching individuals how to move around their surroundings, which may include using landmarks, understanding spatial relationships, and utilizing mobility aids such as white canes. Orientation and Mobility specialists work with students to develop skills such as independent travel, understanding traffic patterns, and using public transportation.

In contrast, adaptive physical education primarily focuses on adapting physical education programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities, ensuring they can participate in physical activities, but it does not specifically address the unique mobility challenges faced by those with visual impairments. Occupational therapy targets improving daily living skills and fine motor skills, while speech therapy is concerned with communication and language development. Each of these is important for overall development but does not fulfill the specific need for mobility guidance experienced by children with visual impairments as effectively as Orientation and Mobility instruction does.