I Chose Series
Blindness and Low Vision Studies
Hi everyone! My name is Danielle Huber, and I am in my final semester toward becoming an Orientation and Mobility Specialist (O&M), working with people who are blind and visually impaired. I am currently residing in Michigan where I am completing my internship at Leader Dogs for the Blind, one of the largest guide dog schools in America and the only guide dog school that offers O&M training with the long white cane.
Here's what a typical day in my life looks like:
6:30 - 7:30 a.m.: I get up and start to get ready for the day. I feed and play with the dog I am fostering during her training to be a guide dog and take her to the park (go outside) before breakfast.
7:30 - 8:00 a.m.: I eat breakfast with our clients for the week.
8 - 8:30 a.m.: I give the dog to her trainer. I work in the O&M office, preparing the morning lesson for our client for the week. Then I check in with my instructor about the plan.
8:30 - 11:00 a.m.: We have our morning lesson with our client. Typically, we will drive to the Leader Dog location in Rochester and work on training white cane skills while traveling street blocks, crossing intersections, navigating obstacles in their path of travel, and learning how to plan routes to new destinations.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Back in the office wrapping up notes and reports from the morning. I discuss any details or concerns with my instructor.
12 - 12:30 p.m.: Lunch!
12:30 - 1:00 p.m.: Back in the office getting ready for the afternoon lesson.
1 - 3:00 p.m.: Afternoon lesson. Sometimes we are still working on things from the morning and sometimes if the client is learning the concepts and skills quickly, we will work on new things like using different technologies to help in their orientation and travel.
3 - 4:00 p.m.: Back in the office wrapping up the day. Go over any final concerns with my instructor and write up final reports.
4:30 p.m.: I pick up the dog from the trainer and bring her home. I feed her at 5 and take her back outside afterwards.
5:30 p.m.: I have dinner with the clients and enjoy hearing about what they learned that day and how they think it might help them when they go home at the end of the week.
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.: I usually study for my certification exam that I am hoping to take during my internship.
8 - 9:30 p.m.: During this time, I typically rest, watch a show and play with the dog.
9:30 p.m.: I take the dog out one last time and get ready for the next day.
