[nabs-l] It's time to fix the Free White Cane Program

[Jedi]

Hello Everyone.

I did some research regarding this issue and here's what I've discovered.

Firstly, the cane supply for the Independence Market and the free cane 
program are two different supplies. The American Action Fund is the 
organization who supplied the canes for the NFB cane program. At first, 
the AAF ordered canes for adults then later added canes for kids. So 
it's not at all impossible for them to order longer canes for taller 
adults. The issue is not a matter of discrimination. This issue is 
that, when the canes were originally ordered, they were ordered 
according to how many people could benefit from the program. At the 
moment, there aren't immediate plans to replenish the free cane supply. 
When the free cane supply is replenished, that would be a better time 
to talk about ordering a few taller canes for people, especially now 
since the bug has been put in the ears of people who matter and can 
make the appropriate decision to get them. Before now, it simply may 
not have occured to anyone to order a few tall canes just as kid canes 
didn't get ordered at first.

While none of this information helps taller people in the immediate 
here and now, it does tell us that taller canes for the free cane 
program can be ordered at some point whenever the AAF funds the next 
order. In the meantime, local chapters and affiliates can buy canes for 
taller people if taller people can't aford them from the Independence Market.

In short, the word has gotten around to the right people such that 
future action can be taken to support taller people in need of free 
canes. In the meantime, don't forget that chapters and affiliates can 
fill in the gaps so that blind folks can get what they need for 
independent travel.

Respectfully,
Jedi Moerke
President
National Federation of the Blind of Washington Student Division
Northwest Chapter of the National federation of the Blind of washington
Original message:

> Greetings,

> For those of you who don't know, the NFB has a free White Cane Program. 
> Through this program, you can get a free white cane every six months. 
> Unfortunately, the free white canes are only available in lengths less 
> than 64 inches. This pretty much excludes everyone over six feet tall 
> from using the Free White Cane Program.

> I just got off the phone with the NFB Independence Market. While I was 
> waiting for my order to go through, I was talking with the lady who 
> works the Market, and she mentioned that the NFB is running low on many 
> of it's cane sizes, and that it would be placing a cane order sometime soon.

> When the NFB buys canes, it buys hundreds of thousands at a time, and 
> it takes many years to sell them. In other words, if we don't convince 
> the NFB to buy longer free white canes now, tall people will continue 
> to be excluded from the Free White Cane Program for at least the next 
> two to four years.

> Tall people deserve the same opportunity to receive a free white cane 
> as everyone else. If you would like to help, you can contact your state 
> affiliate President and ask him or her to contact the NFB and the 
> National Board about this issue, or, you can contact the NFB directly. 
> Their number is 410. 659. 9314.

> I've been told that one possible reason for not offering longer free 
> white canes is because fiberglass canes lose their good properties if 
> they get too long. If this is the case, I suggest the NFB offer tall 
> people a straight carbon fiber cane every six months, or, the NFB 
> should offer tall people a $25 discount on a straight carbon fiber cane 
> (they cost $35).

> In any case, their is no reason tall people should continue to be 
> discriminated against and excluded from the Free White Cane Program; 
> especially since some of the main goals of the NFB are to fight 
> discrimination and exclusion.

> Thank you,

> Jim Reed

> President, Montana Association of Blind Students


> "Our actual experiences are much less important than how we choose to 
> think about them." -Lee J. Colan

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