[nabs-l] canes and increasing sensation of blindness

[Steve Jacobson]

For whatever it is worth, I will use my cane but also take the arm of another totally blind person, or have him or her take my arm depending upon preference.  In that 
case, the point isn't for anyone to necessarily lead or follow.  Rather, I find it easier to carry on a conversation if we are following the same path.  If I take a sighted 
persons arm, I also always use my cane so they are not having to worry about steps and curbs on my behalf.  Since I don't depend upon them for that information, I 
also tend to walk next to them rather than slightly behind them, which also makes conversation easier.  I really don't know why it is advocated that one either go 
sighted guide completely or use a cane.  I find the two to complement each other well.

I also have observed that I do not learn a new route as well if I am hanging on to someone's arm even if I use my cane.  It is an interesting thing, but walking 
completely alone apparently heightens my awareness even beyond what I might expect.  Particularly when I am trying to learn where something is, I will ask for 
directions or follow, without hanging on although I'll usually explain that it makes it easier for me to learn.

On Mon, 3 May 2010 13:42:26 -0400, Jewel S. wrote:

>Hi,

>I use my cane while holding someone's arm all the time. However, I do
>not consider it "sighted guide" so much as keeping with my friend who
>knows the way...especially since the person who usually does this with
>me is my legally blind boyfriend. I hold his arm for balance
>primarily, and to keep track of where he is, as I have no peripheral
>vision. As we walk, he might point things out to me that I would miss
>with my cane no matter what (the mailboxes that stick out at
>head-height, the wet branches in front of my face, etcetra). I use my
>cane so he can concentrate on where we are going and things in front
>of us. I find the curbs and steps on my own, and sometimes if the
>light is too low, I find curbs and such for the both of us, as he is
>not as good with the cane (lack of practice!).

>I find that if I take someone's arm, I am far less likely to learn the
>route. I have done entire routes on someone's arm that, looking back,
>I couldn't tell you the first thing. This is partly because of my poor
>memory, but also because when I hold someone's arm, unless I'm in
>charge of navigation (which does occur sometimes), I let that work go,
>and concentrate more on balance, what my cane is finding, and sounds.
>I can enjoy myself a bit better this way.

>Personally, I think holding someone's arm and using a cane at the same
>time is perfectly fine. That's just my opinion, so feel free to shoot
>me down, but that won't stop me from doing it myself! I don't like to
>put all the responsibility on the other person, no matter how good a
>guide they are...though there is one exception. My O&M instructor
>would do sighted guide with me to get quickly to a location, and my
>cane just got in his way, and he was very good at guiding (he better
>be, since he teaches other people how to be sighted guides, too!), so
>I allow my cane to remain at my side, ready to pull out if I should
>need it, but I put my trust in him.

>~Jewel

>On 5/3/10, clinton waterbury <clinton.waterbury at gmail.com> wrote:
>> As far as the cane issue goes, when I was about three years of age, I
>> started learning how to use the cane.
>>
>> The only problem was that I would flat out refuse to use it until the time I
>> was about five.
>>
>> The travel instructor finally said "Ok, you don't want to use it?  I'll take
>> it from you."
>>
>> At that point, I tried and faled miserably to walk around without it!
>>
>> At the day's end, I did get the cane back, and have been using it ever
>> since.
>> On May 2, 2010, at 4:49 PM, Gerardo Corripio wrote:
>>
>>> Hi guys: I'm curious as to is it fine to use a cane while going sighted
>>> guide with someone? for instance suppose the person whom I'm going with
>>> has
>>> never done sighted guide with a blind person, thus doesn't know to alert
>>> us
>>> of steps and the like. So I was thinking that if this technique is fine to
>>>
>>> use it can serve two purposes:
>>> 1.-Be able to go along sighted guide but at the same time being able to
>>> oneself find and sort obstacles the sighted person might not have the mind
>>>
>>> to let us know.
>>> 2.-Be able to start mapping in our minds the route following, thus make it
>>>
>>> easier to get to know the route by ourselves.
>>> Also I've got another subject on my mind, thus sending in the same email:
>>> Is
>>> it normal that when using a cane I have conflict in using it? though I
>>> know
>>> the cane is how we get around by ourselves thanks to a bad experience
>>> while
>>> studying for a diploma in Humanistic Therapy some years ago in that when I
>>>
>>> wanted to use the cane again after some years of having it dusting, I held
>>>
>>> it in my hand but wasn't able to use it at ease because memories of the
>>> experience came flooding back. fortunately I've been able to work them out
>>>
>>> but am curious as to know if this has happened to you guys? It's a
>>> conflict
>>> because for one I'm aware that the cane makes us unique as blind people
>>> and
>>> lets us move around by ourselves but also because here in Mexico the blind
>>>
>>> aren't viewed as equals in some respects, thus when using the cane gives
>>> me
>>> the feeling that lets blindness show even more, making the sighted people
>>> feel ill at ease; speaking from experience in another country when I know
>>> in
>>> the US you guys don't have to cope with these things because of how
>>> advanced
>>> you guys are in the work you've done all these years. some day I hope to
>>> be
>>> able to be like you guys and really live by your standards, thus hoping
>>> these questions bring on a good discussion from which more than one might
>>> learn something new and enrich the topic of appreciating our roots brought
>>>
>>> on recently.
>>> Gerardo
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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