[Blind-rollers] an idea

[Paul Wick]

All:

While an interesting idea, an AMD offers little real likelyhood that
its user will be as independent as the user of a white cane (in all
its varieties) I think there is litterally no one who if enough time
is spent in training could not use a long white cane. The only
exception might be people who use crutches or walkers, however those
same people could be just as independent if they used a chair and a
cane (I use mostly a manual chair with my cane and while traveling can
be slow going especially on inclines it can be done.)

The AMD also does not have the near universal identification that the
white cane has in the public mind, (I say near universal because
people basically walk right into me everyday lol) The only practical
use I might see is for getting around a nursing home or other
institution-like closed environment.

Just my two cents, from experience, not through any formal training in
the subject matter.

My Best,

Paul

On 4/15/12, Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly at comcast.net> wrote:
>  with your joy stick attached to an AMD you might just get more flexibility
> in traveling. Certainly less pain in the wrists.
>
> Alternative Mobility Device
> Photo shows Dona walking with an AMD.  It has two vertical 4-foot metal
> rods, each
> with a handle at the top and a wheel at the bottom.  The rods are connected
> and held
> about a foot apart with a horizontal bars near the top and at the bottom
> (the horizontal
> bar at the bottom extends a few inches beyond the long vertical rods and
> curves back
> to the rods).
>  "Alternative mobility devices" (AMD's) can provide as much protection (or
> more!)
> as a long cane, but without having to use proper cane technique. They can
> reliably
> detect obstacles, slopes or drop-offs (such as curbs or stairs) ahead of the
> user.
> AMDs are often used by people (children and adults) who cannot use the long
> cane
> for various reasons, such as being physically unable to move the cane
> properly or
> being unable to learn to correctly use the cane reliably. AMDs are also
> useful for
> people who require advanced warning of slopes because of precarious balance.
> And
> AMDs are sometimes used for jogging, as they don't require coordination of
> the cane
> with the feet. However it is important to know that traditionally designed
> AMDs do
> NOT provide any support.
> The first photos on this page show an AMD that was developed for research
> purposes
> by the Veterans Administration. It is not available for sale, but I use it
> as a prototype
> to determine if an AMD will be useful for clients and if so, what length is
> needed.
> Before this prototype was available, I used luggage carriers and 2-wheeled
> shopping
> carts to demonstrate to clients how an AMD might work for them. Actually,
> such carts
> and carriers have been used by some people as an AMD (if you use such a
> ready-made
> device as an AMD, be sure the wheels are far enough apart --
> see below
> ).
> AMD's can detect drop-offs, as shown in the photos below.
> Two photos show Dona pushing the AMD along the sidewalk and one of the
> wheels drops
> over the curb, which tips the AMD sideways, alerting the user.
> Two photos show Dona pushing the AMD along the sidewalk and one of the
> wheels drops
> over the curb, which tips the AMD sideways, alerting the user.
> AMDs are more effective than canes to detect and anticipate changes in
> slopes, as
> illustrated below.
> Photo shows Dona pushing the AMD along the sidewalk, approaching a driveway
> with
> a slope going down to the street to her left.
> Photo shows the wheels of the AMD in the slope of the driveway, which tilts
> the entire
> AMD so the left handle is lower than the right handle.
> AMDs in Use
> AMDs can be made from PCV pipe, customized for size, handle and wheel design
> as shown
> in the examples below.
> Thanks to "An Illustrated Guide to Cane Repair and More" by Lynn Gautreaux
> for very
> helpful instructions to assemble the AMD! This book is available from AER --
> order
> at
> AER's online bookstore
>  or phone 877-492-2708 or 703-671-4500.
> AMD for walking without pain
> A woman holds an AMD made of white plastic pipe in the shape of a rectangle,
> with
> long sides and short top and bottom (the bottom piece extends a few inches
> to each
> side of the rectangle) with two wheels at the borrom.  She holds the top
> like a person
> would hold the handle of a shopping cart, and the bottom bar is about a foot
> and
> a half in front of her forward foot.
>  Using a cane correctly was awkward and sometimes painful for this woman,
> and she
> decided that an AMD would be useful. She wanted to be able to push it with a
> bar
> along the top (like pushing a shopping cart) rather than with handles at the
> side
> (like pushing a wheelbarrow). She may add pipe insulation along the handle
> to make
> it larger and softer, and pegs on the bottom so the AMD can stand on its own
> for
> storage.
> Photo shows the woman's feet and the bottom bar of the AMD, which is
> horizontal to
> the ground and supported by two wheels.  The wheels are about 17-18 inches
> apart,
> and behind the bar we see that as her feet move forward to where the AMD
> bottom is
> now, her feet will step within the space between the wheels.
> Wheel position and AMD dimensions
> It is crucially important that the distance between the wheels be wider than
> the
> space in which the feet walk, so that there is sufficient warning of
> drop-offs to
> the side, such as curbs. The distance between the wheels should be even
> wider for
> people who occasionally move their foot to the side to correct their
> balance.
> The front bar should be far enough ahead of the user to allow sufficient
> warning
> of drop-offs, depending on the person's reaction time and walking (or
> running!) speed.
> The bottom bar of this AMD is extended to each side to increase detection of
> obstacles.
> AMD for negotiating obstacles easily
> Two photos show a woman walking along a hall, approaching the edge of an
> open door.
> Her left hand trails the wall and her right hand holds a cane with the tip
> on the
> floor straight ahead of her hand.  The cane never touches the door, and she
> is about
> to collide into it.
> Two photos show a woman walking along a hall, approaching the edge of an
> open door.
> Her left hand trails the wall and her right hand holds a cane with the tip
> on the
> floor straight ahead of her hand.  The cane never touches the door, and she
> is about
> to collide into it.
> The doors propped open in this building create hazards, particularly when
> someone
> trails the walls. The cane does not provide protection and warn about the
> doors when
> it is not consistently used correctly, as demonstrated here (
> click here
>  for an explanation of the stages of learning to use a cane, and the
> importance of
> full mastery of the technique in order to provide protection).
> Three photos show the woman approaching the same door but holding an AMD
> instead
> of a cane.  The AMD is in the shape of a rectangle with wheels on the
> bottom, and
> she is pushing it like one would push a lawnmower.
> Three photos show the woman approaching the same door but holding an AMD
> instead
> of a cane.  The AMD is in the shape of a rectangle with wheels on the
> bottom, and
> she is pushing it like one would push a lawnmower.
> Three photos show the woman approaching the same door but holding an AMD
> instead
> of a cane.  The AMD is in the shape of a rectangle with wheels on the
> bottom, and
> she is pushing it like one would push a lawnmower.
> By contrast, the AMD provides full protection simply by being pushed ahead,
> without
> having to use proper cane technique.
> AMD made by Eldre Boggs, COMS
> A lightweight AMD is easy to maneuver with one hand while still providing
> full protection,
> leaving the other hand free to trail the walls looking for corners and
> doorways.
> Photo shows the woman with her left hand trailing a wall approaching a
> corner, and
> pushing the AMD with her right hand.
> Three photos show the woman approaching the same door edge she approached in
> the
> first photos, trailing the wall with her left hand and pushing the AMD ahead
> of her
> with her right hand.  When the AMD reaches the edge of the door, it stops
> while the
> woman is still a few feet away from the door.
> Three photos show the woman approaching the same door edge she approached in
> the
> first photos, trailing the wall with her left hand and pushing the AMD ahead
> of her
> with her right hand.  When the AMD reaches the edge of the door, it stops
> while the
> woman is still a few feet away from the door.
> Three photos show the woman approaching the same door edge she approached in
> the
> first photos, trailing the wall with her left hand and pushing the AMD ahead
> of her
> with her right hand.  When the AMD reaches the edge of the door, it stops
> while the
> woman is still a few feet away from the door.
> This foldable AMD is now on the market from
> Ambutech
>  -- the two photos on the left show the model with the "indoor wheels" and
> on the
> right is a prototype with swivel wheels.
> Photo shows the woman walking along the sidewalk from her driveway with a
> rectangular
> AMD that looks like two white canes with crossbars.  The bottom of the AMD
> has stopped
> at the bottom of a step.
> Photo shows the woman smiling and standing on the sidewalk in front of her
> home.
> The AMD has just dropped over the edge of a step.
> Photo shows a young man walking along a sidewalk pushing another Ambutech
> AMD.  It
> is rectangular with a swivel wheel at the bottom corners, and all white
> except for
> about 4 inches of red at the bottom of the sides.
> Return to
> Teaching the Cane and Non-Visual Skills
> Return to
> Using an AMD to Safely Experience Walking Without Vision
>
> Becky Frankeberger
> Butterfly Knitting
>
> Custom-made knit throws, shawls, and more!
>
> Phone: 360-426-8389
> E-mail: becky at ButterflyKnitting.com
> Website: www.ButterflyKnitting.com
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Blind-rollers:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blind-rollers_nfbnet.org/wickps%40gmail.com
>