[nabs-l] Cane as an ID

Thu Mar 14 16:42:33 UTC 2013

Hi,
     I'm going to stick my "oar in" as they say. Kaiti and Mike, I
think there may be a bit of misunderstanding. I think what is sought
by the original poster on this thread is an identification symbol,
something to say "I am blind" that is not as bulky as a cane. I
definitely disagree with this. What I do not disagree with is using
one's functional vision when you have it and, if that be your desire,
to not use a cane if you don't need it. What I do disagree with is the
concept of wanting the "you poor blind person" perks of blindness
without carrying a cane, as the original poster seems to want. There
is a fine line that I think is lost in the grey here.
ALeeha

On 3/14/13, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
> Kaiti:
>
> We shall have to agree to disagree. I see no reason to identify as
> "visually
> impaired" unless one wishes special help or perks. Why not just be blind
> and
> have done with the matter? Much simpler.
>
> In fact, I know a guy who was nearly totally blind for many years due to an
> explosion. He got a good deal of sight back (he's lost it again now) and
> used his sight to look around, traveling with a cane as he always did;
> thus,
> he got the benefit of sight plus didn't have to worry about when he should
> or should not use a cane, whether to identify etc. etc.
>
> Peace!
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti Shelton
> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 10:32 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Cane as an ID
>
> Mike,
>
> I have to disagree here.  As one of those partials who elects when to
> use and not use a cane, I have a perspective on the issue that you may
> not be considering.  Electing when and when not to use a cane is not
> always related to a person being insecure with their blindness; some
> of the most secure people I know don't use canes all the time.
> Furthermore, I don't think people who choose to walk familiar areas
> without a cane some times should give up their right to identify
> themself as a visually impaired person.  E.G, I would never do any
> type of pedestrian travel without a cane or think about crossing a
> street without one, and using one at times when I really can't see
> like at night or when it's very bright are no brainers, but under
> normal conditions when I'm walking from my dorm to the cafeteria right
> across the little street which has no traffic at all and I'm coming
> right back I don't always choose to actively use it.  My choice to not
> use a cane in this instance does not mean I should forfit my right to
> identify myself as a visually impaired person because I am; the use of
> the cane does not change my inability to read print or to see great
> distances and it does not change the fact that I am legally blind and
> am identified that way.  It also doesn't change the level of security
> I have with my blindness; if a person refuses to use a cane or fights
> against it because they're afraid of the social implications then that
> is insecurity, but if they're visually having a good day and want to
> run a quick errand that's in a very familiar area with minimal travel
> or risk of injury and they're confident in their ability to use audio
> cues and the vision they have then that is their choice and doesn't
> make them insecure with themself or their blindness.  As long as they
> have the confidence and security to not be afraid of using it and to
> identify and use it when they need to, to be confident and secure
> whether they're using a cane or not,  and  don't pose risk to
> themselves in the cases where they don't use it there is nothing that
> would suggest insecurity.  We don't know the exact visual situation of
> anyone on this list unless they've written about it, so I don't think
> it is fair to judge about someone's level of security with their
> blindness based on their cane habits when we don't know what their
> vision is like.
>
> Identity canes have saved me from many embarrassing social situations.
>  Of course when you use it it is a more obvious indicator, but I've
> had situations when I've been sitting in a classroom or cafeteria with
> my cane on my desk and someone will try to get my attention using
> something besides my name.  When they see the cane (or sometimes read
> National Federation of the Blind on it if they're close enough to see
> it) they understand why I might not recognize that they're referring
> to me and they'll get my attention in a more obvious way before
> getting my name.  Sometimes they ask about the cane which gives me an
> opportunity to casually explain my vision in simple terms and then the
> person and I can carry on with the conversation because they're
> informed and they see that it's not a big deal.
>
> And, I have to make one small correction.  The main market for the
> lighter, more compact canes is the precise group of people who may not
> use it all the time, and the NFB is obviously aware of this since they
> are the ones who originated the telescopic design.  Although I do know
> people who are totally blind or only have light perception that use
> the telescopic canes they tend to tear through them pretty quickly
> because they use them so much.  For someone who may not use the cane
> every single day but still would benefit from having an identifier to
> let other people know they're visually impaired these canes are great.
>  Think of it this way; it would be impractical for someone with mild
> hearing loss to always use a hearing aid even when they didn't need
> one.  Similarly, if visually a partial is having a good day and can
> see well enough to successfully travel, dodging obstacles and not
> tripping over anything, then it isn't always necessary to use a cane.
> In fact, the correction I really want to make is that choosing to have
> an identity cane on-hand is actually a sign of security in my eyes
> because even if that person may not need to use it by having one for
> people to see they must be okay with their blindness and comfortable
> in explaining their visual impairment to others should the question
> arise.
>
> On 3/13/13, christopher nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Amen, Mike! Yes, the king can be used as an identification tool to
>> alert drivers that you are blind. However, this can be a positive
>> thing and not a negative one. This is at least true if you use that
>> identification tool of the cane as a symbol of independence and not of
>> inferiority.
>>
>> Just my thoughts
>>
>> Chris Nusbaum
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Mar 13, 2013, at 8:33 PM, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hamid:
>>>
>>> With all due respect, it seems to me you're trying to have your cake and
>>> eat
>>> it, too. ON the one hand, you want all the advantages of being
>>> recognized
>>> as
>>> blind whereas on the other, you don't want to really appear blind or be
>>> judged because you do not believe you need a cane. My friend, you can't
>>> have
>>> it both ways. Why do you even care whether the public considers you
>>> blind
>>> or
>>> not or whether they consider it weird that you might appear to not need
>>> a
>>> cane? Moreover, aren't you under the tacit assumption that blind persons
>>> who
>>> use canes travel sufficiently awkwardly that the public knows them as
>>> blind
>>> whereas you consider that you do not?
>>>
>>> Seems to me you have some soul-searching to do.
>>>
>>> We do not have a "blind" id other than the long white cane and most of
>>> us
>>> would not *want* such a label. It's a short step from such a label to
>>> being
>>> prohibited from going places or doing things because of the alleged
>>> inability of the blind.
>>>
>>> Grab that white cane, display and use it proudly!
>>>
>>> Mike Freeman
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hamid
>>> Hamraz
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 3:40 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Cane as an ID
>>>
>>> Dear Folks,
>>>
>>> It is a couple of months I have been investigating a way to represent my
>>> blindness without making a functional use of cane. To be more precise,
>>> the
>>> target people benefiting are those whose residual sight lets them to
>>> walk
>>> without the use of a cane and who want to let the other people around
>>> them
>>> know about their blindness. Carrying a cane is indeed an option.
>>> However,
>>> I
>>> personally think that holding a long cane in my hand without using it
>>> and
>>> walking perfectly is weird in public. In Germany, they have a special
>>> symbol
>>> representing this which can be attached anywhere in any size at one's
>>> own
>>> discretion (and everybody is indeed aware of that). However, there is no
>>> such a thing here in US, and setting that up requires time and educating
>>> the
>>> society about that.
>>>
>>>
>>> My question here is what type of cane I should look for? I need
>>> something
>>> much smaller just to serve as an ID rather than a functional tool. I
>>> appreciate any suggestion.
>>>
>>> Hamid
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> om
>>
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>
> --
> Kaiti
>
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