Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Orientation and Mobility Services for Students with Deafblindness: A Systematic Review Cover

Orientation and Mobility Services for Students with Deafblindness: A Systematic Review

Open Access
|Jan 2026

References

  1. Azenkot, S., Prasain, S., Borning, A., Fortuna, E., Ladner, R. E., & Wobbrock, J. O. (2011, May 7). Enhancing independence and safety for blind and deaf-blind public transit riders. CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (SIGCHI) 29th Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC.
  2. Bourquin, E., & Moon, J. (2008). Studies on obtaining assistance by travelers who are deaf-blind. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 102(6), 352–361.
  3. Fazzi, D. L., & Barlow, J. M. (2017). Orientation and mobility techniques. A guide for the practitioner. (2nd Ed.). AFB Press.
  4. Florence, I. J., & LaGrow, S. J. (1989). The use of a recorded message for gaining assistance with street crossings for DB travelers. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 83(9), 471–472.
  5. Franklin, P., & Bourquin, E. (2000). Picture this: A pilot study for improving street crossings for
  6. Deaf-Blind travelers. RE:View, 31(4), 173–179.
  7. Hersh, M. A. (2013). Deafblind people, stigma and the use of communication and mobility assistive devices. Technology and Disability, 25(4), 245–261. https://doi.org10.3233/TAD-130394
  8. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (2004). 34 CFR § 300.304 (c)(6–7).
  9. Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. (2004). 34 CFR §300.8 (c)(2), codified as amended 82 FR 31912.
  10. Kassem, K., Caramazza, P., Mitchell, K. J., Miller, M., Emadi, A., & Faccio, D. (2022). Real-Time Scene Monitoring for Deaf-Blind People. Sensors, 22(19), Article 7136. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22197136
  11. Kayukawa, S., Sato, D., Murata, M., Ishihara, T., Kosugi, A., Takagi, H., Morishima, S., & Asakawa, C. (2022, August 29–September 2). How users, facility managers, and bystanders perceive and accept a navigation robot for visually impaired people in public buildings [Paper presentation]. IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) 31st Annual Conference, Naples, Italy.
  12. Khan, K. S., Kunz, R., Kleijnen, J., & Antes, G. (2003). Five steps to conducting a systematic review. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 96(3), 118–121.
  13. Lancioni, G. E., & Bellini, D., Oliva, D. (1993). A robot to provide multihandicapped blind persons with physical guidance and activity choices. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 5(4), 337–348.
  14. Lancioni, G. E., & Mantini, M. (1999). A corrective-feedback system for helping a person with multiple disabilities during indoor travel. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 88(3_suppl), 1291–1295.
  15. Lancioni, G. E., Mantini, M., Cognini, I., & Pirani, P. (1998). Facilitating ambulation and activity in persons with profound multiple disabilities through a visual orientation system. Behavioral Interventions: Theory & Practice in Residential & Community-Based Clinical Programs, 13(2), 123–133.
  16. Lancioni, G., Olivia, D., & Bartolini, T. (1990). A blind woman who is mentally retarded promoting and sharing the occupational engagement of a dependent deaf-blind adolescent. Behavioral Residential Treatment, 5(3), 149–157.
  17. Lancioni, G. E., Oliva, D., & Bracalente, S. (1994). An electronic guidance system for multihandicapped blind persons: Evaluating its effectiveness and likableness. Behavioral Interventions, 9(2), 93–103.
  18. Lancioni, G. E., Oliva, D., Adorni, A., Guzzini, F., Locatelli, M., & Spinaci, P. (1988). Promoting unsupervised activities with low-functioning blind persons: Evaluation of a computer-aided program. Behavioral Interventions, 3(2), 85–99.
  19. Lancioni, G. E., Oliva, D., Formica, M, & Rossetti, A. (1988). Applicability of a computer-aided program to increase the occupational engagement of low-functioning blind persons. Journal of the Multihandicapped Person, 1(4), 271–280.
  20. Lancioni, G. E., Oliva, D., & O’Reilly, M. F. (1997). Ambulation, object manipulation, and multiple disabilities: Extending the application of a robot. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 91(1), 53–60.
  21. Lancioni, G. E., Oliva, D. & Raimondi, D. (1992). Two multihandicapped blind persons promoting mobility and activity in a passive deaf-blind companion. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 4(2), 129–139.
  22. Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M., F., & Campodonico, F. (2000). Assisted ambulation and activity for restless or passive persons with profound multiple disabilities: Assessing performance and preferences. Behavioral Interventions: Theory & Practice in Residential & Community-Based Clinical Programs, 15(4), 331–343.
  23. Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Campodonico, F., & Mantini, M. (1998). Mobility versus sedentariness in task arrangements for people with multiple disabilities: An assessment of preferences. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 19(6), 465–475.
  24. Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Alberti, G., Scigliuzzo, F., Signorino, M., Oliva, D., Smaldone, A., & La Martire, M. L. (2010). Persons with multiple disabilities use orientation technology to find room entrances during indoor traveling. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31, 1577–1584.
  25. Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O’Reilly, M., F., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D. Piazzolla, G., Pidala, S., Smaldone, A., & Manfredi, F. (2007). Automatically delivered stimulation for walker-assisted step responses: Measuring its effects in persons with multiple disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 19(1), 1–13.
  26. Lawson, G. D., & Wiener, W. R. (2024). Improving the use of hearing for orientation and mobility. In W. R. Wiener, R. S. Wall Emerson, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility: Instructional strategies and practical applications (4th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 81–121). APH.
  27. McInnes, J. M., & Treffry, J. A. (1982). Deaf-blind infants and children: A developmental guide. University of Toronto Press.
  28. Moradi, M., Fallahi-Khoshknab, M., Dalvandi, A., Farhadi, M., Maddah, S. S. B., & Mohammadi, E. (2021). Rehabilitation of children with cochlear implant in Iran: A scoping review. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 35, 73–78.
  29. National Center on Deaf-Blindness. (2017, October). The 2016 national child count of children and youth who are deaf-blind. Monmouth, OR: The Research Institute at Western Oregon University.
  30. Neal, J., Bigby, L., & Nicholson, R. (2004). Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and
  31. orientation and mobility services in public schools. Intervention in School and Clinic 39(4), 218–222.
  32. Okungu, P., Griffin-Shirley, N., Embley, C. G., & Othuon, V. (2020). A need for interdisciplinary personnel to serve students with deafblindness: A literature review. Vision Rehabilitation International, 12(1), 20–35.
  33. Parker, A. T. (2009). Orientation and mobility with persons who are deaf-blind: An initial examination of single-subject design research. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103(6), 372–377
  34. Parker, A. T., Swobodzinski, M., Brown-Ogilvie, T., & Beresheim-Kools, J. (2020). The use of Wayfinding Apps by DeafBlind travelers in an urban environment: Insights from focus groups. Frontiers in Education (p. 201). Frontiers Media SA. Article 572641. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.572641
  35. Penrod, W. M., Smith, D. L., & Tikkun, S. (2024). Teaching the use of electronic travel aids and electronic orientation aids. In W. R. Wiener, R. S. Wall Emerson, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility: Instructional strategies and practical applications (4th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 555–581). APH.
  36. Pogrund, R., Sewell, D., Anderson, H., Calaci, L., Cowart, M. F., Gonzalez, C. M., Marsh, R. A., & Robertson-Smith, B. (2012). TAPS: Teaching age-appropriate purposeful skills: An orientation and mobility curriculum for students with visual impairments (3rd ed.). Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
  37. 37. Popay, J., Roberts, H., Sowden, A., Petticrew, M., Arai, L., Rodgers, M., Britten, N., Roen, K., & Duffy, S. (2006). Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews: A product from the ESRC Methods Programme 2006. Institute for Health Research.
  38. Ranjbar, P. (2014). Signal processing methods for improvement of environmental perception of persons with deafblindness. Advanced Materials Research, 902, 398–404.
  39. Ranjbar, P., Krishnakumari, P. K., Andersson, J., & Klingegård, M. (2022). Vibrotactile guidance for trips with autonomous vehicles for persons with blindness, deafblindness, and deafness. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 15, Article 100630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2022.100630
  40. Ranjbar, P., & Stenström, I. (2013). Monitor, a Vibrotactile Aid for Environmental Perception: A Field Evaluation by Four People with Severe Hearing and Vision Impairment. The Scientific World Journal, 2013(1), Article 206734. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/206734
  41. Sauerburger, D., & Jones, S. (1997). Corner to corner: How can deaf-blind travelers solicit aid effectively? Re:View, 29(1), 34–44.
  42. Sauerburger, D., Lolli, D., Bourquin, E. A. (2024). Teaching orientation and mobility to learners with vision and hearing loss. In W. R. Wiener, R. S. Wall Emerson, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility: Instructional strategies and practical applications (4th ed., Vol. 2, pp. 639–669). APH.
  43. Selçuk, A. A. (2019). A guide for systematic reviews: PRISMA. Turkish archives of otorhinolaryngology, 57(1), 57–58
  44. Smith, D. L., Penrod, w. M., & Tikkun, S. (2024). Adaptive technology for orientation and mobility. In W. R. Wiener, R. S. Wall Emerson, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility: Instructional strategies and practical applications (4th ed., Vol. 1., pp. 290–329). APH.
  45. Surakka, A., & Kivelä, T. (2006). A new method to train and measure 90° turns in visually impaired and Deaf-Blind subjects. Visual Impairment Research, 8, 41–47.
  46. Swobodzinski, M., Parker, A. T., Schaller, E., & Snow, D. (2022). Pedestrian wayfinding under consideration of visual impairment, blindness, and deafblindness: A mixed-method investigation into individual experiences and supporting elements. ITCRR-1327. Portland State University: Transportation Research and Education Center. https://doi.org/10.15760/trec.282
  47. Swobodzinski, M., Parker, A. T., Wright, J. D., Hansen, K., & Morton, B. (2021). Seamless wayfinding by a deafblind adult on an urban college campus: A case study on wayfinding performance, information preferences, and technology requirements. Frontiers in Education, 6, Article 723098. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.723098
  48. Van Rooyen, X., Huisman, G., Plaisier, M. A., & Pont, S. C. (2024, February 11–14). Shape2vibe: A tangible tool for vibrotactile co-design with people with deafblindness [Paper presentation]. Eighteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (TEI ’24), New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1145/3623509.3635264
  49. Vincent, C., Routhier, F., Martel, V., Mottard, M. È., Dumont, F., Côté, L., & Cloutier, D. (2013). Electronic mobility aid devices for deaf-blind persons. Assistive Technology: Research Series, 33, 559–564.
  50. Warnicke, C., Wahlqvist, M., Anderzén-Carlsson, A., & Sundqvist, A-S. (2022). Interventions for adults with deafblindness - an integrative review. BMC Health Services Research, 22, Article 1594. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08958-4
  51. Wiener, W. R., & Lawson, G. D. (2024). Audition for individuals with visual impairment. In W. R. Wiener, R. S. Wall Emerson, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility: Instructional strategies and practical applications (4th ed., Vol. 1., pp. 92–147). APH.
  52. Wu, K. Y., Mina, M., Sahyoun, J. Y., Kalevar, A., & Tran, S. D. (2023). Retinal prostheses: engineering and clinical perspectives for vision restoration. Sensors, 23(13), 5782. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23135782
  53. Zheng, J., Zhang, J., Yang, K., Peng, K., & Stiefelhagen, R. (2024, May 13–17). MATERobot: Material recognition in wearable robotics for people with visual impairments [Paper presentation]. 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation Annual Conference, Yokohoma, Japan. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICRA57147.2024.10610333.
Language: English
Page range: 1 - 12
Published on: Jan 20, 2026
Published by: Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2026 P. Okungu, N. Griffin-Shirley, C. Ihenagwam, L. Delcambre, A. Page, P. Lindel, T. Nguyen, E. Ohidah, published by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.