[Blindtlk] cane travel: to trail or not to trail

Steve Jacobson steve.jacobson at visi.com
Mon May 16 20:48:03 UTC 2011


You can protect both sides when you shoreline.  I don't think anyone advocates that if you use your cane to shorline that you only keep it on the shoreline 
side.  You still move the cane back and forth, but you take extra care to check the area you are interested in.

However, in many situations shorelining a wall or trailing with one's hand is not very practical.  It has already been mentioned that in some situations you may 
encounter people, but there are often other obstacles along a wall.  There are several ways to deal with finding an opening in such a setting.  First, one 
learns to hear openings without being right next to them if the opening is deep or leads into a room.  A second approach is to look for other queues.  If the 
room you are looking for is the eighth door on the left, that doesn't mean that you have to be able to count all eight doors.  You only need to count after 
some queue.  For example, you might find that a door along the hall has machinery running behind it that you can hear allowing you to count from there.  
You might notice that you walk under an air vent and that you can feel hot or cold air.  You might notice that you pass an employees lounge where you can 
smell coffee.  The texture of the floor might change.  You might cross a mat, carpeting might stop or it might start, there might be an expansion joint that you 
cross.  Clews don't have to be on the same side as the door you are looking for, either.  I really don't like counting steps, but if all else failes, judging the 
distance from a known point to the door one is looking for by counting steps can work.  Again, if you are looking for the eighth door, you don't necessarily 
have to count steps for the whole length of the hall.  You only need to count them from a known point which could be one of the clews mentioned above.  

Best regards,

Steve Jacobsond

On Mon, 16 May 2011 15:57:33 -0400, Chris Nusbaum wrote:

>I wondered that, too.  Also, don't you have to protect both sides 
>of your body by tapping on both sides? How does that work with 
>shorelining?

>Chris Nusbaum

>"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

>--- Sent from my Braille-Note

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: lsterling0 <l.sterling0 at gmail.com
>To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sun, 15 May 2011 13:08:17 -0500
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel: to trail or not to trail

>Hi, how do you stay by a wall if there are people standing or 
>sitting next
>to them? When I was still in college the students waited by their 
>class
>doors up and down the halls.  I had to walk in the middle of the 
>hall because
>of this.  Luckily I still had some vision and could count doors.
>How would someone with no vision do this?

>Owner of vipspouses a list for visually impaired and blind 
>individuals to
>discuss frustrations in their lives.
>for an invertation To join contact
>lsterling0 at gmail.com


>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>[mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of James
>Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 12:31 PM
>To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [Blindtlk] cane travel: to trail or not to trail

>	Just my two cents worth on trailing.
>What is the supposed purpose of trailing?
>To find a door, opening, etc on a wall correct?
>If you learn proper cane technique you can use the shorelining 
>method with
>your cane to find all of these things without ever touching the 
>wall with
>your hand.
>To do it, stay close to the wall and touch the bottom of it with 
>your cane
>tip every step to find what your looking for.  Don't beat dents 
>in to the
>baseboard, lol.  Hence the need to stick close to the wall.
>I was taught trailing by mobility instructors that didn't know 
>proper cane
>technique.  I never employed it much b/c I got tired of banged up 
>fingers and
>skinned knuckles.
>Shorelining using the cane is a much better option.


>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>[mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of blindtlk-request at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 1:00 PM
>To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Subject: blindtlk Digest, Vol 59, Issue 17

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>Today's Topics:

>   1.  Re: cane travel question: trailing or no trailing? (Julie 
>J)
>   2.  [nabs-l] (no subject) (Chris Nusbaum)


>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>-----

>Message: 1
>Date: Sat, 14 May 2011 18:44:51 -0500
>From: "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com
>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no 
>trailing?
>Message-ID: <00ab01cc1290$eb3f8160$0201a8c0 at your07cc84feb2
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>	reply-type=response

>Chris,

>I do use both dog and cane and am comfortable with either method 
>of
>mobility.  I do not use the dog and cane at the same time though.

>Which method of travel I choose depends on quite a few factors.  
>Here's a
>few in no particular order.
>If I'm going to a private home or riding in a private car where 
>the owner
>isn't welcoming of my dog.  I typically don't take my guide in 
>private
>vehicles or into private homes unless he has been specifically 
>invited.
>Others handle this differently and that is a perfectly 
>respectable choice.

>If the situation I'm going into would be appropriate for the dog.  
>I don't
>take my guide when I'm going to be sitting squashed in on 
>bleacher seats for

>example.  I don't go to concerts, but that might be another place 
>I wouldn't

>take a dog.

>Whether or not I am up to handling my dog.  I never take my guide 
>to
>funerals because I am simply not in a frame of mind to 
>effectively work with

>him in that situation.

>How much the dog has already worked.  I just got back from a 
>business trip
>where Monty has essentially been in harness and working for two 
>full days
>with few breaks.  He's tired.  If I go somewhere else this 
>evening, I'd
>leave him at home.

>There are probably other considerations, but these are the main 
>things that
>immediately come to mind.  Also these are specific to me and my 
>current
>guide.  I might do things differently with another dog.  
>Certainly each
>guide dog user has to figure out their own criteria for when to 
>choose which

>tool.  I'd say I work Monty about 75% of the time and use my cane 
>the rest.
>It's a good balance for me.

>HTH
>Julie




>essage -----
>From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 8:58 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no 
>trailing?


> Just curious, do you use the cane and the dog interchangably? If 
>so, in
> what situations do you use the dog and in what situations do you 
>use the
> cane? Or do you only use the cane when the dog isn't available? 
>Just
> curious! I'm not old enough to get a dog yet, but I want to.

> Chris Nusbaum

> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities 
>motto)

> --- Sent from my Braille-Note

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 12 May 2011 16:28:56 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no 
>trailing?

> Chris,

> The thing about trailing is that sooner or later you are going 
>to put your
> hand into something or someone where you probably didn't want 
>it.  *smile*

> I think two point touch is the cane travel term you were looking 
>for.
> shorelining with the cane should find doorways or other 
>landmarks that you
> were finding using trailing.  Also the sound of the tap of the 
>cane should
> provide auditory information about hallway openings, the 
>proximity of
> walls,
> etc.

> I do sometimes use trailing at home where I don't use cane or 
>dog.  I find
> it especially useful when I have a cold or in the early 
>morning-precoffee!

> Julie



> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 4:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no 
>trailing?


> Thanks, Kelby! I like the rigid cane because it's lighter, so I 
>can use
> the tapping technique (can't remember the ONM term for it) a lot 
>easier.
> I think this technique gives you a lot more information from 
>sound, plus
> echo location, if you use that.

> Chris Nusbaum

> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities 
>motto)

> --- Sent from my Braille-Note

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kelby Carlson <kelbycarlson at usfamily.net
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 11 May 2011 15:31:37 -0500 (CDT)
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no 
>trailing?

> I'm going to have to agree on this one.  I occasionally trail if
> I'm looking for a specific door, but even then it's not always
> necessary.  Whether you use a folding or rigid cane, if your
> technique is correct you should have no trouble.  (Trust me, 
>it's
> taken me awhile to develop as much confidence as I as far as
> speed of travel goes.  I know how you feel.)

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Wed, 11 May 2011 15:04:47 -0500 (CDT)
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cane travel question: trailing or no
> trailing?

> Frankly, you are not sacrificing any information you get from
> trailing.  Why?  That's because you are mistaken in the belief
> that you get any useful data at all from that technique.  Better
> to develope a faster pace and trust your  cane; and thus, trust
> yourself better also.  Trailing will slow you down and frankly,
> you'l look strange and lacking in confidence compared to the
> other blind dues around you who are getting the girls because
> they are confident.  How's  that for insentive?


> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!

> Skype name:
> barefootedray

> Facebook:
> facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1



> On May 11, 2011, at 2:57 PM, Chris Nusbaum wrote:

> Hi, all.

> I have a cane travel question for you.  For a long time, I was
> using a folding cane with a pencil tip along with the trailing
> technique, especially in familiar areas i.e.  home, school, etc.
> After attending the LAW Program, where they took my folding cane
> on the first day and gave me a straight (aka rigid) cane with a
> metal tip that I was required to use during the four days I was
> there, I started to like the straight cane a lot better and came
> back home with one.  I don't think I'll switch back to a folding
> cane unless I have to, by the way.  While I was at the program,
> one of the blind mentors was helping me learn how to use this 
>new
> cane, and in the process told me that he would suggest not
> trailing in hallways (whether they be in familiar or unfamiliar
> areas) and trusting the cane alone.  He then said that I need to
> work on a faster, more confident pace than I have already.  One
> of his reasons for that need of a confident pace, by the way, is
> to "get the girls," LOL.  So I tried not trailing in the 
>hallways
> of the Jernigan Institute building, and it did take some getting
> used to.  After the program, I thought about what he'd said.
> Although I can understand what he's talking about with the
> confident pace, I think I get twice the information when I
> combine trailing with cane technique.  So what do you all think?
> Should I sacrifice the information I get from trailing and just
> try to get more information from the cane, or keep trailing and
> have a little slower pace? Or are there any work-arounds you use
> that keep the confident pace and still trail? Any help would be
> appreciated! Thanks!

> Chris Nusbaum

> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities
> motto)

> --- Sent from my Braille-Note

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>------------------------------

>Message: 2
>Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 08:59:39 -0400
>From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [Blindtlk] [nabs-l] (no subject)
>Message-ID: <4dcfce47.073fec0a.740c.ffff8f48 at mx.google.com
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed



> ---- Original Message ------
>From: Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com
>Subject: [nabs-l] (no subject)
>Date sent: Sat, 14 May 2011 11:46:47 -0700

>Hi all,
>  I promise, if  this was a nagdu list thing, then I would post
>it there! :)
> Anyway, do people notice a trending in the number  of cane
>users, or
>dog guide handlers? )more of one, less of another, or about an
>even
>number?)  if there is ashift in anyway,  do you think this
>signifies
>any sort of   message or meaning?   What have you noticed? what
>does
>it mean to you, and why?
> Best,
>  Darian
>--
>Darian Smith
>Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace

>"The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

>? Robert Byrne

>_______________________________________________
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>------------------------------

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