[nabs-l] Pimp My Cane

[Briley Pollard]

I did consider the matching with purse and shoes aspect too... but maybe that is because I'm admittedly a bit overly conscious of things matching.
On Mar 29, 2010, at 3:40 AM, Sarah Jevnikar wrote:

> Hi all,
> I used to decorate my cane for every season or holiday when I was younger
> and I think it's a cool idea but I have different concerns.
> 
> I'm sorry; I feel like a party pooper but here they are.
> 
> Decorated canes are fun but what do they say about us? Unprofessional comes
> to mind, as most of us are at the age where we're looking for summer or
> full-time employment. But perhaps temporary decorations would be ok ...
> 
> Now on a different note, a cane spans from the belt area (and purse area
> too, depending on your preference or length of strap) to a person's shoes.
> So, which should it match? Belt/purse or shoes? Or should they all
> coordinate?
> 
> Just something to ponder.
> 
> Sarah Jevnikar
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Jedi
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 3:25 AM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Pimp My Cane
> 
> It seems to me the question we should be asking is why canes are white 
> in the first place.
> 
> Originally, the cane was painted white as a way of telling drivers to 
> stop for the blind. It was a member of the Lions Club that had the idea 
> in the first place because he observed a blind man having difficulty in 
> crossing a street because there was too much traffic. Now, we say that 
> the white cane makes it easier to see us and so cars are required to 
> stop. It is also worth noting that cars are supposed to stop for all 
> pedestrians. So what we are saying is that blind people need more 
> notice. Why? I agree that until electric cars make noise, they do need 
> to stop for us because we can't hear them. But again, they should stop 
> for everyone because no one can really hear them.
> 
> The white cane laws are civil rights laws that basically say that blind 
> people cannot be automatically held accountable for any injuries that 
> occur to them based on the idea that they should know better than to be 
> out in the world in the first place. Are we now saying that if the cane 
> isn't white so people know we're blind, then any accidents that occur 
> as a result are our fault? White cane laws require that blind people 
> should be treated as anyone else whether injuries occur or not. The 
> white cane laws also say that a blind person shall not be discriminated 
> against as we travel in the world. Really and truly, the laws were 
> meant to protect the person, not the cane itself.
> 
> What I'm getting at is this. The white cane is currently a symbol by 
> which the sighted recognize us by, and that symbol tells the sighted 
> that they need to treat us a certain way. . Would things really change 
> if we changed the colors of our canes? Or would attitudes have to 
> change because now we're saying that it really isn't the responsibility 
> of the sighted to look out for the blind specifically? What do you think?
> 
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
> 
> 
> Original message:
>> Greetings,  Knowing some of the lawyers that I do, they could definitely
>> make that argument stick in court.
>> I don't blame you if you want to paint your cane, but your question should
>> definitely be considered carefully before you do it.
>> I do know someone who has a few support canes which happen to coordinate
>> with her outfits, but her white cane is definitely still white.
> 
>> Have fun with your new one no matter what color it turns out to be.
>> Maryann Migliorelli
> 
> 
> 
> 
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