[nabs-l] Pimp My Cane

[Briley Pollard]

While your points are interesting, I'd like to interject that, (at night), when people are out walking or biking, it is generally hoped that they will wear clothing that drivers will easily be able to see. I've heard several of my friends complain when driving at night that people go jogging or biking while wearing dark clothes, and it makes them difficult to see. I'm not disputing your points, but wanted to point this out.

Unrelatedly, it is too early to be alive, and I'm too tired to be an effective typist, so please excuse any grievous errors on my part.

Briley
On Mar 29, 2010, at 2:25 AM, Jedi wrote:

> 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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