[blindlaw] I'm Confused - RE: Canes and Blindness along with the changing color of the cane

Thu Apr 1 17:08:31 UTC 2010

I have to admit sharing some ( a lot) of your confusion / amusement with
that - I too have a fair amount of peripheral vision, but tend to use
the cane outside (bright light makes it almost as difficult to see as
dimness) and in unfamiliar settings to avoid tripping, breaking things,
etc.  When people then see me pull out my portable video magnifier and
write things down (albeit in huge letters) they are confused and even
hostile at times.  I simply explain the situation and even joke (as is
true) that I used to think white canes were only used by folks with no
vision.  Until confronted with the reality that is what it is, a fair
majority of people neither know nor understand that "visually impaired"
includes folks with some usable sight.  

I'm not thrilled about using a cane, just as I wasn't thrilled using
crutches when I had unexpected foot surgery - but I can still see having
a little fun with it (like the strap decoration suggestion) so long as
it neither destroys it's purpose or usefulness.  Just a thought....

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Michael Groat
Sent: Thursday, 01 April, 2010 9:29 AM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: [blindlaw] I'm Confused - RE: Canes and Blindness along with
the changing color of the cane

Hello All,
I'm confused.  In reading the string of the emails, there are a few
things
that constantly stand out and that is that it appears that many are
trying
to avoid acknowledging their blindness.  I understand only too well
about
desiring to hang on to sight as long as possible.  

What is wrong with using a White Cane and acknowledging one's vision
loss?
>From my perspective, just carrying a white cane is the worst thing a
person
can do.  Just carrying a white cane causes confusion for the sighted.
One
is either Vision Impaired or not.  If one is Vision Impaired, then why
aren't they using the white came.  Most of the sighted don't understand
that
there a myriad of variations of vision impairment.  The Vision Impaired
need
to think about what is seen by the sighted and not from their own
viewpoint.
What may be logical to one may be confusing to another.  This is
especially
true when it is between the Visually Impaired and the sighted where the
white cane is concerned.  Why not use the white cane and let people know
what you can do on your own?  

Many of the emails appear that many people are not addressing the whole
picture.  I have found that by using my white cane that many people do
acknowledge it and I am getting there respect by doing things on my own.
Yes, I have also received the comments of "may I be of assistance" or
let me
help you".  One must remember that there many people that try to be a
Good
Samaritan to everyone and they should not be insulted for their efforts,
even if we don't care for it.  When I come a cross a person that doesn't
know about the white cane, I then have the opportunity to inform them,
which
will make it better for the next blind person.  Even if one is not
totally
blind, the white cane needs to be used.  

I have found that by using my white cane (even though I have some
peripheral
vision) and doing what I can on my own, that I am being accepted as is,
which reality is.

By acknowledging your blindness by using the white cane, you will be
accepted in time.  Remember, you need to help train the SIGHTED.

I have seen some of the emails addressing changing the color of the
white
cane.  I am not sure just how the law is written, but there may be a
legal
issue with changing the color of the cane.  

The white cane is universally accepted, so what is the problem with
leaving
the dame white?  Is this idea just another way to avoid acknowledging
one's
vision loss?  The white color is the most reflective color and that is
part
of the safety issue.  

It also appears that many of the Vision Impaired is letting their Print
Impairment affect their view of the sighted and reality.  

The key to acceptance is to acknowledge and deal with one's vision
impairment.   

Being Accepted as an equal is the goal for all of us.  How one goes
about
getting that acceptance may very well be the 'if and when' the
acceptance is
obtained.  

Is there an EGO problem with using the white cane?
Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
Behalf Of WB
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 3:37 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Canes and Blindness

>From my reading of Mark's statement....and he can defend his own....but
I
didn't see where he said not to use a cane.

One problem in this e-mail  trail and others is that many times, myself
included, read what we want to out of a person's statement rather than
what
they really said.  I guess, as in court, yowe cannot come to an amicable
resolution if the facts are not taken into consideration.

I'm sure there will be a statement regarding this one that may take a
word
or two out of context.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 2:38 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: [blindlaw] Canes and Blindness

Mark:

I suppose it is a goal to "blend in and not stand out" as you say, 
but not just in a physical sense.  I want to be a part of society, an 
equal, getting the bad and the good do along with my sighted 
counterparts.  With the tools available to me today, cane, dog etc., 
I will always stand out some.  So instead of trying to hide that I 
need to be proud of my blindness and promote a positive attitude 
towards those tools and blind people, so the stigma goes away.  There 
is a stigma because we are not equals -- our unemployment rate etc. 
prove that.  When we change that it won't matter that we carry a 
cane, use a dog etc.  We won't change attitudes by not using canes 
and the like though.

Dave

At 08:00 PM 3/28/2010, you wrote:
>I'm not quibbling with the white cane as a mobility tool.  However,
>recently a thread started here about carrying a white cane merely to
>identify oneself as blind, so as not to cause confusion when being
>unable to read name tags, etc., at a symposium or whatever.  It was
>put forth that canes should be carried, in addition to any value they
>may have as a mobility aid, merely to identify a blind person as
>blind, and to allow the sighted to give them a "handicap," in not
>being able to read name tags.  For this purpose, a sign declaring "I
>am blind, please act accordingly," would serve just as well, it seems
>to me, and the white cane then becomes a stigma-maker, not a tool.
>For purposes of this discussion, the "white," color of the cane
>becomes the "distress cry of the blind," or something; the identifying
>mark by which blind people are known and warn their surroundings that
>they are in fact in need of a handicap.  This is one reason why I want
>to use a cane that's other than white with a red tip.  It is very true
>that, even with my guide dog, when I wear sunglasses, I am often
>mistaken for a dog-walker, not a guide dog user.  It's like that old
>left-handed compliment, "No one would know you're blind, you do that
>so well."  That infuriates me when it's said to me.  It seems that
>some here are trying to avoid just this situation--being mistaken for
>a sighted person--when I should think that was the ultimate goal of
>any blind person--to blend in and not stand out.

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