Whose Learning is it? Fostering Student Ownership in Orientation & Mobility

There is a growing body of literature (Ashcroft, 1987; Kohn, 1993; O’Neal & Calabrese Barton, 2005; Rainer & Matthews, 2002; Wood, 2003; World Health Organization, 2010) that encourages age-appropriate choice and control as a way to develop student ownership in a variety of educational areas. However, exactly what student ownership is and how it manifests in the context of orientation and mobility (O&M) services appear to be more elusive concepts. This article is an attempt to advance our understanding of student ownership in O&M while providing concrete strategies to foster engagement and decision making, two key aspects of student ownership.