[Blind-rollers] an idea

Mon Apr 16 17:32:57 UTC 2012

You give a great perspective, Paul. But if you have wrist or hand problems,
a cane will beat you up pretty badly. For us who use our hands for work, a
cane can further fatigue them. The AMD as you said is not for everyone, but
it is an idea, smile. Also easily made as my chair extender was to make with
PVC pipe, smile. 

Might be helpful to those who have nueropothy, carpol tunnel etc.

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

-----Original Message-----
From: blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Paul Wick
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 10:58 PM
To: Blind wheelchair users list
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] an idea

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
>
>
>
>
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