[Blindtlk] NFB and canes and travel

[Mark Tardif]

Hi, Pat,

I have a couple of NFB canes with metal tips, one of which telescops and one 
which is just a straight cane.  They both are quite light and easy to 
handle.  The metal tips are very easy to take off and put on, no tools 
required.  But, they also stay on, I've never had a problem with one falling 
off while I was using the cane.  I find these light-weight canes to be quite 
easy to maneuver, either while using the touch and drag technique, or while 
using the regular touch technique, where you do not drag it along the 
ground.  Also, I point my index finger down, but since there is no flat side 
to the grip, where you hold the grip is not as big an issue.  Also, I would 
recommend a fairly tall cane, perhaps the height of your chin, so it will 
pick up information at a farther distance and you can hold it more 
comfortably than many of us were taught, where you tucked your elbow against 
your gut.  Overall I prefer these canes to anything I was first given by my 
school because they are lighter and seem to pick up a lot of information.

Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Patrick Bennet
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 3:49 PM
To: patrick.bennet807 at gmail.com
Subject: [Blindtlk] NFB and canes and travel

Hey everyone,

I just joined the list. I have some questions about cane travel and I
hope you might be able to help me with this. Before I ask, I should
probably explain.

For years I received instruction in O&M through my school district. I
was given a folding cane with a standard rolling tip, which seems to
be pretty commonly ordered by most agencies and districts. I think
they come from a place in Canada .... but don't quote me on that. That
is what I've always been used to. They seem decent enough.

But, I've read some online literature from the NFB about cane travel,
including structured discovery (as opposed to routes) and a different
kind of cane you use that is lighter an uses a metal tip. I've also
heard about something called a rainshine tip. Maybe they are the same
things.

Anyway, I've always been taught to hold the cane with the palm of the
hand over it, with the index finger pointing down the flat side. This
allows the cane with a roller tip to stay on the ground, also called
constant contact. Is this not correct? From what I've read on the NFB
website, your canes have metal tips, which would seem harder to slide
over rough or cracked areas but would give more feedback. I also read
somewhere that the grip is supposed to be different. In short, I'm
wondering what the differences and advantages are. If so, I'd like to
learn more. I've already read that they are lighter. Do you use them
or hold them differently with another grip? Can NFB canes take roller
tips and use constant contact, and if not, why? Is there really that
much of an advantage to a cane that doesn't fold? I'm curious to learn
about the differences, because I've never heard about them otherwise.

Thanks,
Pat

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