[nabs-l] Questions regarding transition to cane use

Tue Sep 3 02:28:20 UTC 2013

Hi Ashley.  Glad to have you on the list.  I agree with a lot of what
has been said by others.  As a blind person who uses a cane at
college, I can tell you from personal experience, the sooner you learn
how to use it, the better off you'll be.  I am so glad, that you
aren't afraid to try the transition to using a cane.  I know that when
I began attending my local community college, I did have a cane, but I
didn't use it very much.  Constantly, I would rely on other students
to takeme to my classes and different places on campus.  It took me a
few years of getting help from people before I finally realized that I
needed to learn the routes to my classes.  I found that once I learned
how to get to my classes, that I could go to the places on campus that
were of interest to me such as the library, the student center, and
different classroom buildings.  If you as either a visually impaired
or blind person learn how to get around on your campus or university,
it will be great.  You will be able to go wherever you want to go, and
whenever you want to go somewhere, you can just go.  You won't have to
try and find someone to help you, or have to wait around for somone to
help you.  Being independent on your own, or being dependent on
others, is a choice we all much make as blind people of any age.  Good
luck.

On 9/2/13, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Ashley,
>
> First of all, welcome to the list! I am glad that you have found it as
> it is a great place to ask questions and share ideas. As you probably
> noticed, this is the NABS list. NABS stands for the National
> Association of Blind Students. We are a division in the National
> Federation of the Blind that naturally is made up of blind students
> and interested parties. I am the secretary and serve on the board with
> 8 other people, and we would love to answer any questions that you
> have about blindness and the NFB. Furthermore, if you would like to
> identify where you are from in an email offlist, I can connect you to
> students in your area if you are interested.
>
> I think it is great that your opthamologist is encouraging you to use
> a cane. It can be a great identification tool if you are asking for
> help, but it will also be a great tool to help you find your way
> around. Anything that you can do to prepare for more vision loss ahead
> of time will only make your transition easier. Using a cane will make
> you more noticeable, and people may be curious and ask questions, but
> I think that adjusting to using new tools now will maximize their
> usefulness to you as you transition.
>
> I think it is great that you are going to get in touch with state
> resources for blind people. The NFB does have a free white cane
> program though, so you can get a cane and try it out for free! Just go
> to www.nfb.org and click on the link "request a free white cane."
> Generally, I use a cane that is the height of somewhere between my
> chin and my nose. The faster you walk, the more advantageous a longer
> cane will be fore you so you can clear more area in front of you at a
> time. I am sure that you will be able to speak with an O&M instructor,
> someone who teaches blind people how to travel with a cane,  when you
> get in touch with your state's resources. But the NFB operates 3
> training centers for blind people who employ O&M instructors. I have
> several friends who teach cane travel and who teach at these and other
> state centers who I would be happy to get you in touch with if you are
> interested.
>
> Just some background about me. I was born with a tiny bit of vision
> and was able to see colors and objects if they were very close to me.
> I was staunchly against using my cane. However, as high school
> progressed, my vision deteriorated. At one point, my teacher who
> converted my materials into braille came up to me and told her that
> the vice principal said that if I did not start to use my cane, I
> would start to get in trouble. She mentioned that he wanted to tell me
> but that she thought it would be easier if she told me, and I am
> thankful for that. It was a huge transition for me. I was embarrassed
> that I was on the verge of getting punished. I was a straight A
> student who never got in trouble and teachers loved me. But I was
> completely ignoring an essential component of being an independent
> person and that was using a cane and confidently navigating my
> environment. I wish that I had gone through this much earlier in my
> life. I missed out on years of being confident in who I was because I
> was stubborn and had negative attitudes about my life and blindness.
> So I really believe that if you tackle the challenges of transitioning
> to using the tools that blind people use , you are carving a much
> smoother path for yourself.
>
> I think it is great that you are on the list. We have a lot of members
> who have been through similar transitions and who would love to talk
> to you and support you.
>
> Cindy
>
> On 9/2/13, Ashley Allen <abunchoflettersandnumbers at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi all!
>>
>> Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Ashley. I am new to this
>> group and am a  university student this year after transferring from
>> community college. I have nystagmus and have severe strabismic amblyopia.
>> I
>> still have a decent amount of usable vision, but it is steadily getting
>> worse. I am legally blind in my left, and nearing so in my right. My
>> opthamologist has brought up the possibility of cane usage recently as I
>> am
>> steadily losing my usable vision. I am currently still able to drive,
>> with
>> restrictions, and commute to campus. He's suggested this so that I may
>> familiarize myself with cane use and to identify myself while on
>> campus...I
>> tend to get very lost as I have trouble seeing the tiny signs...
>>
>> Does anyone have any thoughts? Is this appropriate as I can still drive?
>> What are peoples thoughts on transitioning to cane use mid semester?
>>
>> I havent brought it up with my disability services on campus yet, as I
>> want
>> to visit the state resources first, but any thoughts would be
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Ashley
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>
>
> --
> Cindy Bennett
> Secretary: National Association of Blind Students
>
> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
> clb5590 at gmail.com
>
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