[blindkid] cane use and travel in familiar areas

[Carol Castellano]

Couple of things to think about.

It is helpful for a blind person to know how to use a cane with 
either hand--for going through doors, using railings, and other 
possible situations.  BUT I would never make a 3-year-old cane user 
unhappy by making him switch hands.  I think your son will be able to 
learn to use the cane in the other hand at some later point.

Next, regarding "trailing," it depend on the purpose.  If scanning 
the wall is being used to encourage exploration and to encourage the 
child to discover what is in his environment, then this is a good 
sensible thing for a 3-year-old, tho it would not have to be done all 
the time.  If "trailing" and using the cane diagonally is being used 
as a basic-level cane technique, then that might be a different 
story.  It sounds as if your son has already gone beyond that 
point.  I think the trailing idea goes along with that ancient belief 
that blind people are frightened if they are not in touch with 
something solid.  I also have seen kids who have beautifully centered 
themselves in a hallway and are comfortably walking along pulled over 
to the wall so in order to use that more basic technique (diagonal 
and "trailing").  It might be more useful to begin teaching him 
"walking in line technique."

We need to make sure we do not cut our kids off from any valuable 
techniques or information that traditional O&Ms can supply.  But we 
also want to make sure that our kids aren't impeded by old custodial 
practices and don't become victims of the ignorance of others (like a 
classroom aide).  It's a balancing act.  Make sure your son really 
has that mental mapping ability; make sure he explores his 
environments; make sure nobody impedes his attitude or his progress!

Carol

Carol Castellano, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nfb.org/nopbc

At 02:57 PM 10/15/2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>      I know I am probably going to sound uneducated here, but I have a
>question for those whose children use canes and mental mapping, okay, two
>questions.  Here goes.
>
>      My son learned to use his cane in his right hand.  He has done a
>remarkable job of adapting to cane travel for a 3 year old.  He also does
>extremely well with echo location and mental mapping.  Now the O & M
>instructor (I might add that we got a new O & M instructor on the first day
>of school.) wants him to switch cane hands.  He is right handed and the O &
>M want him to use the cane in his left hand, so he can trail with his right
>hand and then cane diagonally.  He is not really happy or cooperative with
>this change.  Is this something others have had experience with?  Is this
>something new?  Every picture I have seen of a child or an adult with a
>cane, it has been in their right hand.  I get the reason that he should be
>able to use both hands and walk on the right, but it seems a little bit like
>trying to make a lefty learn right hand stuff, only in this case it is
>making a right handed person into a lefty.  I also understand that the can
>is an extension of your hand.
>
>      Second issue.  My son is learning trailing in the classroom.  However,
>he was headed straight for his cubby to get his coat and his aid interrupted
>him to go back and trail.  I thought it was quite remarkable that he has a
>mental map and knows where his coat is.  I should say that I am an advocate
>of discovery learning techniques.
>
>      Help, what am I missing?
>
>Blessings,
>Sue H.
>_______________________________________________
>blindkid mailing list
>blindkid at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>for blindkid:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carol_castellano%40verizon.net