Balanced, Protected, and Informed O&M for Active Daily Living

The grant award will help Safe Toddles place mobility tools directly into the hands of children aged 10 months and older. It will also support training so each recipient has help learning how the Belt Cane fits into daily movement, exploration, and safe travel.

The first article in “The Cost of Waiting,” a series examining what happens when we fail to invest in appropriate mobility technology for young children with a mobility visual impairment or blindness.

When deciding whether a blind child needs a mobility device, are we asking the right questions? A clearer developmental framework starts with the child's need for protection and environmental information—not motivation, cane failure, social acceptability, or other unnecessary barriers.

Use one short summer video to document your blind child’s O&M skills, show how the Belt Cane supports safer travel, and ask your IEP or IFSP team to put assistive technology, training, and measurable mobility goals in writing.