[blindkid] School cane O/M issues

[Carol Castellano]

I think it was Richard Holloway who listed a lot of the reasons last 
week.  For children still learning the cane, the folding cane is 
heavy and the rubber inside dampens the sound and feedback to the 
child's ears and hand.  Collapsible canes can collapse--that's the 
main problem with them!  But both kinds of canes often require the 
assistance of an adult to get them fully open and that cuts down on 
the child's independence.  Last but not least, we do not want the 
child to internalize the message that the cane should be put away, 
hidden away, gets in the way, etc.
Carol

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


At 03:20 PM 10/19/2009, you wrote:
>Let me ask this, what is the reluctance  of using a collapsible or foldable
>cane in instances where one would otherwise try to find a spot to hang, lean
>or otherwise stow a cane until needed? New to blindness and oh so prefer to
>be able to fold up my cane and place it under my seat or in my brief case or
>bookbag until needed again.
>
>Albert J. Rizzi
>CEO/Founder
>My Blind Spot, Inc.
>90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>New York, New York  10004
>www.myblindspot.org
>PH: 917-553-0347
>Fax: 212-858-5759
>"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
>doing it."
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Bonnie Lucas
>Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 2:27 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] School cane O/M issues
>
>auubrie and I place our canes in the corner behind the door as we seem to
>always live in houses with a good corner for that. There was a time when my
>husband tried to get us to store it in the coat closet but we fought that
>one because closets can become disorganized, causing canes to get a bit
>lost. This way, when we walk out the door, the cane is oh, so close to the
>door. Aubrie mentioned to me last night when we were reading these posts
>that the only class where she parks her cane by the door is band.
>Bonnie
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Joy Orton" <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
>To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 9:42 AM
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] School cane O/M issues
>
>
> > About storing the cane:
> > We have a strip of velcro on the desk at school so that Ahbee's cane is
> > available at hand. If there is a fire drill(or the real thing), I want her
> > cane to be in her hand in a moment! She chooses to walk independently at
> > school as much as possible, and the teachers are with us on that.
> >
> > At home Ahbee stores her cane in the hall closet. Her dad and I have told
> > her, feel free to use your cane in the house! With two younger siblings,
> > things are going to get in the path, but she just walks more slowly in the
> > house.
> >
> > Joy Orton
> >
> >
>
>
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