Summary of article published in the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness:

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This study examined independent walking in thirty-five children with a mobility visual impairment or blindness (MVI/B) aged fourteen to sixty-nine months. Before obtaining a Belt Cane, they had limited to no ability to walk independently with safety. Wearing the Pediatric Belt Cane provided them with consistent, haptic tactile feedback and protection from colliding with objects in the environment.

Methods:

Thirty-five participants with an MVI/B’s independent walking milestones were analyzed using pre- and post-video recordings provided weekly one month before and the three months after obtaining the Pediatric Belt Cane. The Belt Cane consisted of a rectangular frame that connects to a custom-made belt with magnets. The Pediatric Belt Cane provided no weight support. While none of the participants had motor impairments, 80 percent of them were receiving physical therapy services prior to obtaining a Belt Cane. Fifty-four percent were receiving orientation and mobility services, and half were equipped with hand-held mobility tools (e.g., long canes). 
 

Results: Visual impairment
   Twelve participants had optic nerve hypoplasia Septo optic dysplasia (35.3%), eleven had cortical visual impairment (29.4%). Three participants had retinopathy of prematurity. Two participants each presented with Norrie’s disease, microphthalmia with retina coloboma, Leber Congenital Amaurosis and traumatic brain injury. The cause of one participant’s congenital blindness was listed as unknown. Seventeen of the participants were blind (NLP) and eighteen were visually impaired, they responded to visual stimuli but the result of the severity of their visual impairment meant they were unable to visually avoid collisions, or MVI. 

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