The 12th International Mobility Conference
27 November to 1 December 2006
Hong Kong, China
Background of IMC
Background of the International Mobility Conference
To facilitate the social integration of the visually impaired persons, the provision of a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services in which Orientation and Mobility Training fosters independent travel of the visually impaired in the community, is considered essential to help the visually impaired to lead an independent living. Realizing the importance of this, professionals in the field including Orientation and Mobility Instructors, University Professors, Engineers, Architects, Mobility Aids Manufacturers, etc. from various parts of the world are eager to get together regularly to exchange new knowledge, technology and share experiences in the development of mobility aids and Orientation and Mobility Training for the visually impaired.
IMC was first inaugurated in 1979 in Frankfurt. Subsequent conferences were held in Paris (1981), Vienna (1983), Jerusalem (1986), Veldhoven (1989), Madrid (1991), Melbourne (1994), Trondheim (1996), Atlanta (1998), Warwick (2000) and Stellenbosch (2003).
In the previous International Mobility Conferences, the following issues had been deliberated:
Aids to Mobility - guide dog mobility; electronic mobility and navigation aids; canes and techniques; new developments. Children - early intervention; training of the pre, primary and secondary school child; O&M programs in inclusive or specialized education; perceptive and cognitive aspects of the learning and teaching of children; as well as support/assistance for parents, teachers and other care givers. Environmental Issues - access; design; mapping; travel in unusual environmental situations. Low Vision - assessment; aids to mobility; visual skill training; services; new developments Multiply Disabled including the Deaf Blind - outreach; assessment; program development and delivery; assistive mobility devices; communication; new ideas in the training of both adults and children. Personnel Preparation - curricula design and development; standardization; meeting the needs of visually impaired populations; new developments. Rehabilitation Issues - residential and community based programmes; activities of daily living; sport and recreation.