Mobility training teaches you the routes and techniques you need to travel your campus and your commute independently, so that guiding support becomes something you choose rather than something you depend on.
A qualified mobility trainer works through the journeys that make up your academic week: station to campus, halls to lecture theatre, department to library, the route to your placement. Each route is broken down, walked, practised and then tested with the trainer stepping progressively further back.
Training covers landmarks and orientation, safe crossings, cane technique where relevant, use of accessible navigation apps, and what to do when a route is disrupted by building works or a closed entrance — the situation that most often derails an otherwise well-learned journey.
It is usually recommended for students starting at a new institution, moving into new accommodation, beginning a placement in an unfamiliar setting, or experiencing a change in their vision.
It works well alongside sighted guide support at the start of a course: guiding keeps you attending everything from week one, while training steadily reduces how much guiding you need.
Front-loading training into induction and the first weeks of term gives the best results, and we will happily deliver sessions before teaching formally begins where your funding is in place.
Mobility training is a DfE Band 3 role delivered face-to-face by qualified practitioners across the regions we cover.
It depends on the number of routes and how familiar you already are with the area. Your Needs Assessment sets the recommended allocation, and we plan the routes with you against those hours.
Yes, placement and work-based routes are commonly included where they are part of your course.