[Blindtlk] What a difference in a cane

[Annely Rose]

Yes, it is available from NLS.  I just downloaded it.  Enjoying all your posts.  Take care and God bless.

Annely
--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 10/27/14, Ringlein, Ellen via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] What a difference in a cane
 To: "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com>, "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
 Date: Monday, October 27, 2014, 1:56 PM
 
 I also found it quite
 liberating when I realized that my white cane is not just a
 symbol, indicating my blindness to  others, but a tool that
 could make me more independent and self-reliant. Once I
 gained this insight, I took my cane everywhere and used it
 all the time, even if I made an occasional use of an elbow.
 I used to say that the only place I did not take my cane was
 the shower, but that's no longer true. I've gone
 camping and took the cane with me in the shower. These days
 I feel naked without it. And just like with a credit card, I
 never leave my home without my cane.
 
 You might find it interesting to read Tom
 Bickford's book: The Care and Feeding of the Long White
 Cane. Here is a link to the online version. 
 https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/books/CFCANE/canetc.htm
 
 You can order the book in
 print or Braille from the NFB Independence Market at no
 charge. I believe that the audio version is available from
 NLS.
 
 Cordially,
 
 Ellen Ringlein
 Manager, Independence Market
 National Federation of the Blind
 200 East Wells Street
 Baltimore, MD 21230
 Phone:
 (410) 659-9314, Extension 2421
 Fax: (410)
 685-2340
 Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:ERinglein at nfb.org"ERinglein at nfb.org
 
 The National Federation of the
 Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that
 defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
 expectations of blind people, because low expectations
 create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You
 can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you
 back.
 
 To make a donation to
 the National Federation of the Blind Imagination Fund
 campaign, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture"
 www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture.
 
 
 
 -----Original
 Message-----
 From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
 On Behalf Of Tom Cramer via blindtlk
 Sent:
 Monday, October 27, 2014 11:41 AM
 To: NFBnet
 Blind Talk Mailing List
 Subject: [Blindtlk]
 What a difference in a cane
 
 Recently, I was interested in a discussion that
 was had here regarding
 a brand of cane
 called a rainshine which was asked about.  Someone
 also suggested the telescoping carbon fiber
 canes which I always use
 but which I've
 been having problems with lately.  I went ahead and
 reluctantly accepted one of those free NFB
 straight canes from a
 friend.  I say
 reluctantly because I've always been self conscious
 about using one of those that I can't just
 put away.  I figured they'd
 be a lot of
 trouble.
 I've also been someone who has
 done a lot of traveling with sighted
 guide,
 but I had a telescoping cane break and another one make me
 feel
 like it is going to break.
 
 I was given an NFB long
 straight cane, and I was amazed at the
 difference.  The person who gave it to me
 ordered it to where it came
 up to my nose. 
 I walked around a little bit, and it felt different.
 I didn't worry about it wanting to collapse
 or break.  I had a weird
 feeling about it
 as well.  I actually felt more confident and
 comfortable in using it.
 
 I think my attitude about using the cane is
 changing in that I finally
 feel that I want
 to be a more independent traveler.  It's hard when
 I'm so used to wanting to go everywhere
 with someone sighted guide,
 but I felt a new
 sense of confidence and freedom these past few days.
 I was given mobility training in school but I
 just didn't apply it
 outside of classes
 unless I had to.  And now that I feel safe and
 confident, I kind of feel that I don't need
 to be going sighted guide
 all the time. 
 This is going to be hard on my family because they're
 not used to seeing me navigate like this when
 we're all together.
 
 Anyway, thanks to that cane discussion I now
 have a new interest in my
 own indepdent
 travel and want to work on it!
 
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