A Balance Act: Physiotherapy as a Prerequisite to Orientation and Mobility Services

The School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia initiated a community practicum for fourth year physiotherapy students. The goal was to broaden student’s perspectives about how allied health areas such as Orientation & Mobility (O&M) services are movement based similar to that of physiotherapy services. The authors participated in a five-week practicum at an organisation that provides O&M services to clients with vision impairment. It was observed that some of the O&M programs would have benefited from physiotherapy input that would have assured the long term success of O&M programs.