A Different Kind of O&M
My name is Ben Schuler. I hold the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board — the credential endorsed by the National Federation of the Blind as the standard for independent O&M practice. I earned my Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance with an Orientation and Mobility specialization from Louisiana Tech University. I am blind. I use the alternative techniques of blindness in my own daily life, and I have for over a decade of teaching travel full-time. That lived experience is not incidental to my work — it’s central to it. When I teach cane travel, I’m not guessing at what a skill feels like from the inside. I know. Before starting Traverse Instruction, I spent nearly a decade as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, one of the most recognized Structured Discovery training programs in the country. During that time I instructed blind adults, children, and seniors from across the United States; trained professionals from other agencies and training centers in Structured Discovery methods; delivered guest lectures to graduate O&M students at Louisiana Tech University on topics including metacognition, self-efficacy, and the psychology of skill acquisition; and provided direct field instruction to graduate students and O&M certification candidates working toward the NOMC. I bring that depth of experience to every student I work with in New York City — and to clients across the country when agencies or individuals need an O&M specialist willing to travel.An Approach Built on Nonvisual Technique
Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) is an instructional approach grounded in cognitive psychology and the belief that blind people can travel effectively using nonvisual techniques — without relying on residual vision as a primary tool. The goal isn’t just to learn a route. It’s to develop transferable problem-solving skills that work in familiar and unfamiliar environments alike, regardless of how much usable vision someone has. Students learn to rely on what’s dependable: touch, sound, spatial reasoning, and a solid mental map. Adjustment to blindness counseling in the context of travel instruction helps students adopt beliefs, attitudes, and expectations that go far beyond skill acquisition to create meaningful change. This approach draws from the work of Richard Mettler and the cognitive model of cane travel instruction, with roots in the same philosophy that guides the National Federation of the Blind’s adjustment-to-blindness training centers. Not every student can spend six to nine months at a residential program. Traverse Instruction brings that same orientation to your city, your neighborhood, and your specific travel needs.What Traverse Instruction Offers
Orientation and Mobility Instruction
One-on-one, top-tier cane travel instruction delivered in the community where you live, work, and travel. Sessions focus on building transferable, nonvisual skills — not just memorizing routes. Instruction takes place on sidewalks, in transit systems, and across urban, residential and commercial environments in New York City and surrounding areas.Independent O&M Assessments
Comprehensive independent evaluations of a student’s current O&M skills and needs. These assessments are often requested by families seeking an independent evaluation (sometimes when preparing for an IEP or as part of an IEE) outside of a school district, or by attorneys, agencies, and funding sources that need an objective, expert review of a student’s travel functioning regardless of age. Findings are documented in a comprehensive written report.Consultation and Professional Education
Training and consultation for agency staff, VR counselors, educators, and other professionals on Structured Discovery methodology and its application in O&M practice. Available for presentations, staff development sessions, and advisory work with organizations seeking to align their approach with nonvisual instructional principles. Available for guest lectures, professional development engagements, and academic collaboration with university programs in psychology, rehabilitation, and related fields.Out-of-State and Travel Contracts
Traverse Instruction serves clients across the country. Agencies and individuals in areas without access to NOMC-certified, Structured Discovery instruction can arrange contracts that include travel, lodging, and per diem. Reach out to discuss your situation.What Clients Say
“Ben changed my life. Through Structured Discovery O&M, he taught me to cross complex intersections, build mental maps anywhere, and travel with confidence. These transferable skills have carried me across my 8,000-acre college campus, to a summer internship in DC, and to comedy clubs across the country where I perform.”
— Bhavia, former student, Louisiana Center for the Blind
Fees and Funding
Fees are based on the premium nature and scope of services as well as the individual situation of each client. Traverse Instruction works with a range of funding sources, including Vocational Rehabilitation, school districts/Universities, private pay, legal settlements, and other third-party payers. To discuss fees and what might work for your situation, reach out directly. Every inquiry is welcome.Get in Touch
Whether you’re a family navigating the school system, a VR counselor looking for a referral, an attorney with a case that needs an O&M expert, or someone who simply wants to learn to travel with a cane — reach out. Traverse Instruction serves clients in New York City and across the country.E-mail: info@traverseinstruction.com Phone: (770) 490-4991