[Mdpobc] O/M cane issues at school

[The Jacobs' Family]

Frankly, I would tell the woman to send that diagonal technique right back where she got it from.  Sounds downright hazardous to me!!  You were right.  How would one figure out how to protect the other side when the cane is diagonally across on one side, rather than moving from side to side?  I've been using my cane with the "touch-and-tap technique you were talking about for 40 plus years.  And, guess what?  I'm still alive to tell you about it!  Isn't that amazing?  They tried that song-and-dance with my daughter about a month ago and I stopped that woman dead in her tracks too.  I told her I wanted my daughter taught something that works!!!  Nothing more, nothing less!!  After all, that's what they're paid to do???  Oh Glory!!  My husband and I taught our blind, autistic son to tap from the very beginning.  Even he has figured out why we tap our canes.  He hears the sound waves being generated off objects from the tapping.  He actually finds that technique extremely helpful.  David will be nine in January.  He's become quite a decent little cane traveler.  When I first introduced him to the cane, I allowed him to take it around the house, touching and tapping everything in the house for about two weeks to get him used to the idea.  It clicked with him almost immediately--pardon the pun.  Didn't take long for him to catch on to the value of that one.  We practiced navigation of steps and all kinds of things in our house.  It's taken him a bit longer not to be intimidated by the out-of-doors.  But he's coming along there too.  He actually becomes more inhibited and afraid if he doesn't have it now.  He can't stand it.  Gotta have it!!Have a great weekend

Bernie Jacobs
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: L W 
  To: mdpobc at nfbnet.org 
  Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 8:33 PM
  Subject: [Mdpobc] O/M cane issues at school


        Hi all 

        Joli’s mobility teacher has her learning the diagonal technique.  I asked Joli to show me how the O/M  has her using the cane.  It looks like she holds the cane in her right hand.  It is crossed in front of her left hip with the tip maintaining constant contact with the ground.  I asked her what happens if there was an obstacle on her other side and she said she can switch hands.  This technique seems really awkward to me as it looks like she can’t completely clear the space ahead of her without switching hands, which is tricky if she's carrying anything.  I was wondering if the NFB has any thoughts on this technique.  Joli got her cane from the NFB and has been using the touch tap, step, tap, step technique they showed us at the NFB.  Her O/M teacher says that the NFB touch tap technique is only for outdoor use.  She didn’t even want Joli using her cane indoors until she had learned the diagonal technique.   So far after much debate we have an understanding that Joli can use the touch tap technique until she learns the diagonal technique.  The O/M instructor wants me to provide a letter from the NFB saying the touch tap technique is appropriate for indoor travel in a familiar environment.  I am not sure I want Joli using the diagonal technique, and I am wondering how the NFB feels about this technique.  

        Thanks for any advice,

        Lauren Wibbe
       




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