Passion to offer a helping hand

Working with children is a challenge but Kristen Morse, 27, wants to take on something bigger. Her goal is to work with children with vision loss.

“It would be really rewarding to go to a preschool and work with a child who has lost their vision, to help them be mobile just like their friends, and play just like any other child,” she says.

Morse’s passion arose from her previous work as a preschool teacher where she was exposed to children with disabilities.

When she heard about the orientation and mobility program with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT she thought it would be a perfect role for her.

“I had worked with children with various disabilities before and I enjoyed doing that, so once I started learning about what was involved [with orientation and mobility], I thought it would be really interesting,” she says.

Being an instructor involves helping people with vision loss develop skills for mobility and independence, so they can become partof the community.

“We focus on giving independence to clients, for them to be able to get around by themselves. That might include teaching them how to use a cane or tactics to catch public transport and cross roads,” she says.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT sponsors the two-year course, selecting about 10 people at a time to be a part of the program.

The training is designed to give candidates the sense of how it feels for their clients as they go about their daily routine.

Morse says people best suited to this role like being around people and have a thirst for helping them.

“I’ve learnt to listen to people, to understand what their needs are,” she says.

“You have to be a people person, you have to love people and enjoy working with them.”

HOW TO BE AN ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY INSTRUCTOR

Requirements

Kristen Morse (pictured), who is currently training to become an instructor, started her career teaching preschool. She says you need to like working with, and helping, people.

Course

This two-year course is offered by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. Applications are usually taken in November.

Cost Free.

The program is sponsored by Guide Dogs with the aim of you eventually working for them.

From the inside

“We learn mobility skills and tactics to teach to people with disabilities,” Morse says. “[While teaching] it’s important not to focus on the disability but to focus on the person.”

For more information go to www.guidedogs.com.au.