[Blindtlk] NFB and canes and travel

[Lauren Merryfield]

Hi,
I think it depends on what an individual's travel needs are and what works
best for them, given various life circumstances. 

I started out with a wooden cane with a crook, that had a wooden tip that
really gave me no help, and I was in Jr. High and didn't want to be seen
with a cane. So it took its place in the back of my closet. 

Later, I was introduced to the RainShine cane with a metal NFB tip and I was
taught to use the tapping technique.  This was much better for me. I
traveled outdoors a lot back then and I found that a long, straight, rigid
cane was the safest and sturdiest for me. Now I am not out as much so a
telescoping or folding cane works fine for me and is more convenient when I
fly and when I am in public places, particularly restaurants. 

More recently, I have been taught that I would fall less often if I used a
marshmallow tip, keeping contact with the ground or floor in front of me.
This is due to problematic ankles, not to blindness, that I changed my cane
technique. Now I am more likely to find irregular terrain that now can be
more difficult for me to find using the tapping technique. 

I currently have a Kustom Cane that is a folding cane which has been
customized with catly motifs so it is more PURRsonally mine,and I feel more
comfortable with it than with a sterile, blah, boring white cane. So my cane
usage has changed over the years as I have changed. 

I hope that something in that will be helpful to you when you make your
choice of cane(s).
Thanks
Lauren
-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Patrick
Bennet
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 12:50 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

_______________________________________________
blindtlk mailing list
blindtlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindtlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/lauren%40catlines.com