[Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention

Sat Jun 25 15:02:53 UTC 2011

Dear Chris,

I carry the telescoping cane for a few reasons while using my dog.
First of all, I was a cane user for over 20 years and I prefer the 
telescoping cane to the folding cane or the rigid cane for its storability 
when collapsed.
It is smaller but lighter in weight than the folding cane and with a "D"ring 
added to the lanyard next to the end cap, it is easy to just clip in on to a 
belt loop for carrying and to free up my hands.
I like it as I can open it with one hand and close it with one hand.
I have only been using my guide dog Jack for a little over a year and a half 
now.
I do not take my dog everywhere with me for various reasons and do so to 
both protect my dog as well as so I keep my cane skills sharp as well as I 
do not have to harness up Jack just to walk down the hall to the restroom or 
take some paperwork to someone's office.
The cane just hangs there, by my side, until I need it.  When walking with 
Jack, he is trained to stop and show something he believes is a danger.  It 
is then up to me to explore with my foot, hand or cane to discover it and 
then give him an order as to what I want him to do about it.  This could be 
a overhanging tree branch, a construction barrier or in one instance a hole 
in the sidewalk where someone had pulled the grate off the suewer drain and 
left the hole open in the middle of the sidewalk.
He is taught something called "intelligent disobedience" so that even if I 
give him  a lawful order, he will not follow it.  He will stop and will not 
move.  If I tell him twice to go on, He will instead move in front of me and 
block my way to protect me.  My cane would never do that.
Traveling with a dog is very different than with a cane.  With a cane you 
sweep and tap and make contact with objects in your way.  With a dog, the 
dog leads you around those objects and you may not ever know they were even 
there.
Jack is taught over 40 commands and I can teach him more as needed.  He can 
identify doors, elevators, steps stairs, escalators, curbs, curb cuts, ramps 
and find a chair or a seat for me.  He can be given a command to follow 
someone I tell him too.  He even helps me walk a straight line which is 
something I have trouble with these days as my balance is effected.
Your use of a travel tool is very personal and no matter which tool you 
choose to use, it is your choice and no one else's.  As long as you get the 
job done, who cares.  I do not look down my nose at anyone's choice in 
methods of travel and know that each has its pros and cons, advantages and 
disadvantages and you live with the choices you make.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.  "Team Evans."

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention

> Probably something to do with the guide dog, Chris.  You can carry a 
> telescopic cane on your person and use a dog, but if you try to carry a 
> rigid cane and use a dog, your hands are suddenly quite full.
>
> Joseph
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 02:46:53PM -0400, Chris Nusbaum wrote:
>>Hi David,
>>
>>Just wondering, why do you like the telescoping cane over the NFB straight 
>>cane or the folding cane? I like the NFB straight cane because it's 
>>lighter, so it's easier to use the two-point-touch technique and get 
>>information out of sound.  I use to use a folding cane until I tried the 
>>straight cane at the LAW Program at the Jernigan Institute back in April. 
>>But I never liked the telescoper that much because I thought it was hard 
>>to fold up, so it wasn't worth it.  What do you like about the telescoper? 
>>What about the tip?
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
>>To learn more about Camp Abilities and find a local camp near you, just 
>>click on this link to their national Web site: www.campabilities.org.
>>
>>The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps visually impaired youth in Maryland have 
>>the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click on this link to learn 
>>more and to contribute: www.icanfoundation.info.
>>
>>Sent from my BrailleNote
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net
>>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:05:13 -0400
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention
>>
>>
>>Dear Penny,
>>
>>As a rule, the Independence Market, i.e.  the NFB Store, usually has many
>>different styles and types of canes there for purchase.  I plan to buy
>>another telescoping cane myself, even thou I use my guide Dog Jack to get
>>around.
>>I still always carry a cane with me.
>>
>>David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Humberto Avila" <avila.bert.humberto2 at gmail.com
>>To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:39 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention
>>
>>
>>So cool! Is your daughter also blind?
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Penny Duffy
>>Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:58 PM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: [Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention
>>
>>I know Independence Market will be at the convention.  My daughter really
>>wants to try a NFB straight over the folding  heavy aluminum cane her O&M
>>instructor gave her.  Does anyone know if they normally have a good
>>selection? I keep telling her we will get her a new one at convention and
>>now I am concerned there isn't going to be any there.  Its our first
>>convention and we are very excited
>>
>>--
>>--Penny
>>----------
>>Adventures with Abby - visionfora.blogspot.com
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>>
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