Mobility Aids and Orientation
There are a wide range of Assistive Devices called” Mobility Aids” which have been developed and are available to assist persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired, so that they can be more mobile and independent.
These Mobility Aids can range in price and include both “low tech” inexpensive devices such as White Canes, as well as more expensive “high tech” equipment, such as Smart Glasses.
The Mobility Aids listed on this page do not only include equipment, but also Accessible Features, such as Tactile Paving. Orientation Techniques can also be taught and used by persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired, so that they can be more mobile.
These Orientation Techniques and the use of White Canes or Guide Dogs + Accessible Features which the Government has introduced, can help persons who are Blind, to be able to travel around & navigate successfully from point A to point B. Some persons who are Blind use a wide range of these Mobility Aids, while others only require one or two of them to be able to travel independently.
Please read the article below OR click on the shortcut links provided alongside.
What Are You Looking For?
Companies and Organisations That Can Assist
Mobility Aids and Orientation
1. Mobility Aids
a. Guide Dogs and Accessories
b. White Canes: Types of White Canes
– White Canes Available in South Africa
c. GPS Devices
2. Orientation Techniques
a. Companies & Organistions That Provide Orientation Training
3. Accessible Features
a. Tactile Paving
View the information below to find further information on the products available and the companies that provide them.
Companies and Organisations That Can Assist
There are various Organisations and Companies in South Africa such as Blind SA, Sensory Solutions and Edit Microsystems, which sell or offer a wide variety of these Services and Mobility Aids.
Some of these Organisations & Companies can also advise you on what equipment would best suit your needs and how to use the equipment that they supply.
Mobility Aids and Orientation
The Mobility Aids and Orientation Techniques that can be learned from the companies listed below plus the Accessible Features which the Government has introduced, can help persons who are Blind, to be able to travel around & navigate successfully from point A to point B.
Some persons who are Blind use a wide range of these Mobility Aids, while others only require one or two of them to be able to travel independently. Please read the information below to find out more about these options for people with visual impairments.
1. Mobility Aids
Some blind people are skilled at echolocating silent objects simply by producing mouth clicks and listening to the returning echoes. It has been shown that blind echolocation experts use what is normally the “visual” part of their brain to process the echoes.
GPS devices can also be used as a Mobility Aids. These Devices can assist persons who are Blind to navigate themselves, they are not however a replacement for traditional mobility tools such as White Canes and Guide Dogs. GPS devices are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems and are sold in South Africa. They include products such as:
a. Guide Dogs and Accessories
A Guide Dog is a Service Animal used by persons who are Blind or have a Visual Impairment. Service animals are defined as animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for persons with disabilities. They are working animals and not pets, so the work or tasks that the animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.
Guide Dogs and training is available from various companies and organisations in South Africa and are exempt from regulations which apply to animals in places such as restaurants, public transportation and aeroplanes.
Click Here to find out more about the Guide Dogs and the Organisations that train and provide these and other Assistance Dogs.

b. White Canes: Types of White Canes
A White Cane, sometimes known as Mobility Canes, is a thin white stick used as a Mobility Aid by Persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired, they are used to improve their mobility and to scan their surroundings for obstacles or orientation marks.
Mobility Canes are often made from aluminium, graphite-reinforced plastic or other fibre-reinforced plastic and can come with a wide variety of tips depending upon user preference.
Techniques for cane travel can vary depending on the user and/or the situation. A White Cane also help for other traffic and in identifying the user as Blind or Visually Impaired. The White Cane with a red tip is the international symbol of blindness and the Cane’s prominent white colour helps to identify it and is mandatory in many jurisdictions.
There are however a variety of different types of Canes that can be used by Persons with Visual Impairments, the choice depends on the individual’s vision, motivation, and a variety of other factors. They include:
This Cane is used to extend the user’s range of touch sensation. It is usually swung in a low sweeping motion, across the intended path of travel, to detect obstacles. This is the traditional white cane and can also be known as a “Hoover Cane”. The Cane length depends upon the height of a user and traditionally extends from the floor to the user’s sternum. Visit our Standing Wheelchairs section below to find out more
Is a shorter Cane and generally extends from the floor to the user’s waist. It has a more limited mobility function and is used to scan for kerbs and steps. The guide cane can also be used diagonally across the body for protection, warning the user of obstacles immediately ahead. Visit our Parallel Bars section below to find out more
The ID cane is used primarily to alert others as to the bearer’s Visual Impairment. It is often lighter and shorter than the long cane and has no use as a mobility tool. Visit our Body Weight Supported Trainer section below to find out more
The White Support Cane is designed primarily to offer physical stability to a person who is Visually Impaired, but the colour of the cane also works as a means of identification. This tool has very limited potential as a mobility device. Visit our Standing Frames section below to find out more
This version works the same as an adult’s Long Cane but is designed for use by children. Visit our Tilt Tables section below to find out more
This Cane is used in some countries to designate that the user has low vision while the white cane designates that a user is blind. Visit our Tilt Tables section below to find out more
a. White Canes Available in South Africa
Some blind people are skilled at echolocating silent objects simply by producing mouth clicks and listening to the returning echoes. It has been shown that blind echolocation experts use what is normally the “visual” part of their brain to process the echoes.
GPS devices can also be used as a Mobility Aids. These Devices can assist persons who are Blind to navigate themselves, they are not however a replacement for traditional mobility tools such as White Canes and Guide Dogs. GPS devices are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems and are sold in South Africa. They include products such as:
There are various Organisations and Companies in South Africa such as Blind SA, Sensory Solutions and Edit Microsystems, which sell White Canes and other Mobility Aids and can also advise you on what equipment would best suit your needs and how to use the equipment that they supply. Please contact them to find out more.
a. GPS Devices
Some blind people are skilled at echolocating silent objects simply by producing mouth clicks and listening to the returning echoes. It has been shown that blind echolocation experts use what is normally the “visual” part of their brain to process the echoes.
GPS devices can also be used as a Mobility Aids. These Devices can assist persons who are Blind to navigate themselves, they are not however a replacement for traditional mobility tools such as White Canes and Guide Dogs. GPS devices are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems and are sold in South Africa. They include products such as:
There are various Organisations and Companies in South Africa such as Blind SA, Sensory Solutions and Edit Microsystems, which sell GPS Devices and other Mobility Aids and can also advise you on what equipment would best suit your needs and how to use the equipment that they supply. Please contact them to find out more.
2. Orientation Techniques
Many persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments can travel independently, using a wide range of the Mobility Aids listed above, as well as Accessible Features and various techniques which can be learned. These are known as Orientation Techniques and are taught by Orientation and Mobility Specialists, which are professionals who are specifically trained to teach persons with Visual Impairments how to travel safely, confidently, and independently in their home and the community.
These professionals can also help blind people to practice travelling on specific routes which they may use often, such as the route from one’s home to a convenience store. Becoming familiar with an environment or route can make it much easier for a blind person to navigate successfully.
a. Companies and Organistions That Provide Orientation Training
Some blind people are skilled at echolocating silent objects simply by producing mouth clicks and listening to the returning echoes. It has been shown that blind echolocation experts use what is normally the “visual” part of their brain to process the echoes.
GPS devices can also be used as a Mobility Aids. These Devices can assist persons who are Blind to navigate themselves, they are not however a replacement for traditional mobility tools such as White Canes and Guide Dogs. GPS devices are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems and are sold in South Africa. They include products such as:
3. Accessible Features
Accessible Features are features which have been introduced by mostly the Government, to make public places and activities Accessible. There are a wide variety of initiatives and laws which have been introduced throughout the world and in South Africa to assist persons with Visually Impairments to live and travel independently and to be able to complete daily tasks and activities, such as Traveling, Shopping, Eating Out and Moving from Point A To Point B.
These initiatives help to ensure that equal opportunities and rights are available to persons with Visual Impairments, they include:
a. Tactile Paving
Tactile paving also called truncated domes, is a system of a textured ground surface indicator found on footpaths, stairs and train station platforms to assist pedestrians who are Blind or have Visually Impairments.
Tactile paving was first developed in Japan before spreading to other nations around the world, including South Africa. The distinctive surface pattern of truncated domes, cones or bars are detectable by a long cane or underfoot and are used to alert pedestrians of approaching streets and a hazardous surface or grade change.
Raised domes are used to indicate a stop or change (e.g. the presence of an intersection or edge or a shift in direction). Users register the different types of tactile signals with canes or their feet and respond accordingly. Tactile Paving is available to purchase from companies such as Smart Stone in cities throughout South Africa. Tactile paving comes in different patterns and colours to alert the pedestrian of any dangers.
You can contact companies such as Smart Stone to find out more or receive a quote:
Disclaimers and References
Some blind people are skilled at echolocating silent objects simply by producing mouth clicks and listening to the returning echoes. It has been shown that blind echolocation experts use what is normally the “visual” part of their brain to process the echoes.
GPS devices can also be used as a Mobility Aids. These Devices can assist persons who are Blind to navigate themselves, they are not however a replacement for traditional mobility tools such as White Canes and Guide Dogs. GPS devices are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems and are sold in South Africa. They include products such as:









