[blindkid] Stages of cane use?

Tue Apr 12 16:17:09 UTC 2011

Thanks everyone for your ideas and support. We're gonna try to keep it light
and easy and not overly stress. The reason I asked if this was a phase is he
previously did use the cane to find curbs and what not. His cane skills seem
to vary with use and his visual abilities of the day....honestly, if it's
one of those days where we are amazed that he seems to see stuff that he
"should not" be able to see, it's going to be a frustrating cane day. It's
kind of ironic really...

Thanks for the ideas. We are going to try games to keep him moving quickly
like everyone suggested and take some calculated fall/bump risks. Thanks
again!

Marie (mother of Jack, born May 2005)
Check out our blog at http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com for
glimpses into our busy life with a boy who is busy growing and developing in
his own way in his own time

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Richard Holloway
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 10:01 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?

Very true, and it still goes on from what I understand. I know that we met
with HEAVY resistance over our daughter's using an actual cane as opposed to
a so-called "pre-cane-device" when working with a local center for the
blind. (This would have been about seven years ago-- mid 2004.) I thought
(and continue to think) very highly of that center which works with the
blind from newborns clear through to adults, but we absolutely went to WAR
over the cane issue. 

We were told what many people have heard: kids need to be able to understand
the concept of using a cane before they try so they don't have to "un-learn"
bad habits. I think that sounds rather convincing for about 5 or 10 seconds,
but then I take pause and realize that sighted kids don't "understand"
walking at first either. Who exactly tells parents of SIGHTED children to
stop them from trying to walk until THEY fully understand the concept? That
isn't how learning works in ANY early development concept of which I'm
aware, and I'm fully convinced it has nothing to do with walking with a
cane. Parents who are new to this situation (at least from what I recall)
may tend to think they are waiting for some professional-- (maybe a doctor?)
to "prescribe" a cane. It doesn't work that way of corse, but how would they
know? And it isn't like there is a white cane department at Wal-Mart.
Doctors rarely (if ever) are going to tell parents to go and get a white
cane for their child. Many vision centers, by-and-large, tend to delay
suggesting canes early on. Many O&M instructors in schools are slow to get
canes into young kids hands as well. I know of cases where they have also
brought canes for O&M lessons but taken them away between lessons to control
the canes and insure they are being used (and learned about) properly.

This is no exaggeration-- in our situation at the local center they
literally took every other parent in our daughter's class aside when she was
around 18 months old and told them that they objected to use of a cane for a
child so young as ours. They told these parents that they were supporting
our specific wishes AGAINST their better judgement. (Meanwhile my wife and I
were distributing free NFB canes to all the other kids in the class we could
behind the scenes, so to speak.)

If any of you are not aware, "pre-cane-devices" are generally little PVC
trapezoids with the narrow end at the top (where it is held) and the wide
end at the bottom. Larger PVC rollers are typically added on the bottom (big
pipe around small) and allegedly assist the walker with forward liner
motion. In fact, I'll agree they probably do that. Unfortunately, they also
are heavy and cumbersome. (Compare the weight to a fiberglass NFB cane I'd
estimate it is at least 10x the weight, probably more.) The devices
generally cause children to lean forward, creating posture issues, and let's
face it, the last thing we need to do is encourage blind kids to look down
all the time, right? How many of us are constantly trying to get kids with
little or no vision to sit straight and keep their face looking forward (so
to speak). These devices prevent in-step motion with the hands which we all
need to develop. They occupy both hands as well and they are entirely
useless for navigating stairs, needing to be carried by an adult or hoisted
onto the child's shoulder as they attempt to traverse a staircase. I'd also
suggest they make a child stand out a lot more than a cane. There may be
cases where some small percentage of blind kids benefit from such devices,
but I don't believe there are many cases where children, at least children
with blindness as their sole impairment, need to use pre-cane-devices over a
white cane. I say, if you feel you need something like that for a very young
child, give them a push toy that is fun and age appropriate and can serve
the same purpose. If they can move about with a toy shopping cart in front
of them, they'll be ready for a cane soon enough instead. Besides, they can
explore with a cane when just standing or even sitting down as well. Very
early cane use is as much about extending a blind child's reach and world as
it is about learning to walk effectively.

"Old school" O&M practices would have the general public as well as the
blind population believe they know all the answers and there is some "secret
formula" involved in teaching cane travel, especially to small children. I
have huge respect for many in the O&M profession, but the ones I respect the
most are the ones who realize that since traditional O&M was developed as a
model for rehabilitation of previously sighted adults who had lost their
vision in World War II, some adaptations may be appropriate in the teaching
method needed for use with children, especially when they are very young and
have had little if any vision ever.  (Not that I have a strong opinion on
the matter or anything like that, LOL...)

On Apr 11, 2011, at 8:30 PM, Carol Castellano wrote:

> Some historical perspective:  it wasn't that long ago that kids were not
even getting canes till they were 14 or 15 years old (there WERE no little
canes!).  (See
<http://www.blind.net/alternative-techniques/mobility/cane-and-preschoolers-
the-eight-year-revolution.html>http://www.blind.net/alternative-techniques/m
obility/cane-and-preschoolers-the-eight-year-revolution.html for some
history.)
> 
> Virtually all of the adults you see walking with canes who are in their
30s or older learned these techniques after they were 15 years old.   So
your little guys who have had canes in their hands since they could stand up
are really ahead of the game.  I'm sure you've seen many extremely good
travelers who are older than 30.  If they can get that good even tho they
started late, just imagine how terrific your kids are going to be!!!
> 
> Cheers,
> Carol
> 
> Carol Castellano
> Director of Programs
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> 973-377-0976
> carol_castellano at verizon.net
> www.nopbc.org
> 
> At 03:40 PM 4/11/2011, you wrote:
>> Our phrase has become "get your good grip" (or "is that your good grip?")
because that used to be the key issue-- not holding it correctly. Now she
actually may have her good grip, but she's either not going side-to-side
(fairly common for her), or using the "magical floating technique" with the
tip hovering just above curb height in front of her. Mentioning her grip
usually gets the fastest response.
>> 
>> The other thing I keep working on is her remembering when to go to a
staff grip, like in close quarters with others, when standing in a line, or
at stairs. All I have to say now is "staff" if she forgets, and I think that
is getting to be needed less often as well.
>> 
>> There is a lot to remember and there are so many distractions for us all
when we're out and about-- it is no wonder it takes a while for all of this
to become automatic...
>> 
>> Richard Holloway, Vice President
>> Georgia Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>> www.gopbc.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Apr 11, 2011, at 3:00 PM, Samantha Parker wrote:
>> 
>> > I agree with "tough love" in a safe way!  My 6 year old doesn't use a
sweeping motion in front and wow...she misses things...all I have to say is
"Bev, that's why I tell you..." and she finishes with "sweep your cane."
>> >
>> >
>> > --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > From: Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org>
>> > Subject: Re: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?
>> > To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> > Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 11:08 AM
>> >
>> > Merry-Noel and Brandy both make good points. Our daughter spent a good
deal of time dragging the cane behind her for a while. No matter what, I'd
remind him that you're glad he has his cane with him because if he starts
leaving it or throwing it down then you have another battle to fight.
>> >
>> > When Kendra would fail to use her cane properly, apart from reminding
her over and over, I'd sometimes  let her walk into things, trip, and
sometimes even enhance the opportunity for her to have a minor crash. (That
may overstate, but I would not always give her any verbal warning of
something in her way for example.) Mind you, I was always poised and ready
to grab her when she was very little before a major crash or fall. It sounds
a little mean, but far better to have a few trips and falls when we're there
to help than for her than to figure someone will always be around to guide
her. Someday, we won't be there, and we know that.
>> >
>> > Ultimately, we could often make this into a funny discussion and avoid
any crashes up front-- "Your cane is telling you what's behind you-- you
already know where you've been. Don't you want to know what's in front of
you?"... That sort of thing. Kendra uses her cane very well now, but at
times she still "floats" her cane in the air and stops clearing her path
properly. Then I may remind her that her cane is just telling her what's in
the air in front of her-- not on the ground, but after that, I will let her
trip herself on a curb or stair if it is in a fairly safe place (no cars
nearby, nothing major to fall over if she stumbles). It is all sort of a
calculated risk in "tough love" trying to let her learn from small mistakes
to avoid huge ones later on.
>> >
>> > Richard
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Apr 10, 2011, at 8:47 PM, Merry-Noel Chamberlain wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Marie,
>> >> Has Jack ever had O&M without using his eyes; aka using sleepshades?
Perhaps I would try that.  If wearing shades is difficult for him - locate a
dark room (a room that has no windows) and shut off the lights.  Sometimes I
use a school gym.  I will play games in the gym such as Red-light,
Green-Light with no light on.  We practice running in there, too.  This
builds some confidance in the cane.  Also, tell Jack he needs to hold his
head up when he walks because that is the proper posture.  By wearing
sleep-shades he learns the cane lets him know things such as curbs and
stairs.  Prase him (or the cane - smile) when you notice that his cane found
something that his feet didn't find.  Walking faster helps quite a bit.
>> >> Merry-Noel
>> >>
>> >> --- On Sun, 4/10/11, Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> From: Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net>
>> >> Subject: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?
>> >> To: "Blindkid email" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Date: Sunday, April 10, 2011, 11:19 PM
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> I am getting very frustrated with Jack who is slowing down and using
his feet rather than maintaining his rhythm and using his cane to find
curbs/obstacles. Yet he insists on carrying his cane. Is this just a phase?
Tips anyone?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Marie (mother of Jack, born May 2005)
>> >> Check out our blog at http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com for
glimpses into our busy life with a boy who is busy growing and developing in
his own way in his own time
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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