[Blindtlk] What a difference in a cane

Wed Oct 29 01:52:16 UTC 2014

I've always told clients and people that the cane (or dog) is the gateway to 
personal independence.

Judy

-----Original Message----- 
From: Annely Rose via blindtlk
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 11:10 AM
To: EllenRinglein ; Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] What a difference in a cane

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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