[nabs-l] NFB and canes and travel

[Chris Nusbaum]

Pat,

I would first like to welcome you to these lists and to our Federation. It
is good to hear that you are investigating all your options and taking full
advantage of the network of support and resources which this organization
provides.

While I have my own experiences to draw from, I find questions like these
slightly hard to answer. I say this because I believe travel is very much a
matter of personal preference. To me, there is no "correct" cane to use and
no single appropriate way to use it. What works for me may not work for you,
and what works for you may not work for another blind person, and so on.
Contrary to what some might have you believe, even the NFB does not
officially endorse one particular method of travel, though our members might
have their own strong opinions on the subject. Our concern, I believe, is
that blind people have the confidence and the skills needed to travel where
we want to go, however we choose to get there.

With this said, let me tell you what I have done and currently do in the
hope that this will add more information to the advice you have already
received. For a long time I used an Ambutech folding cane with a pencil tip.
While this provided relatively good information, it was hard for me to tap
it, so I primarily used constant contact. When I went to an NFB-sponsored
youth program for the first time, I had to give up my folding cane and use a
rigid NFB cane with a metal tip during my time there. I came home liking the
rigid cane for its lightness and ease of use. I was finally able to tap with
ease, which provided me with the auditory information the old Ambutech
lacked. However, I found the straight cane sometimes cumbersome, especially
in public places and in cars. There were many times when people would
approach me and inform me that my cane was sticking out in the aisle at a
concert hall/theater or in the middle of a walkway in a restaurant. The
travel instructors at the Louisiana Center for the Blind said this was
because I was not putting the cane down correctly, but despite my many
attempts I was never able to get the darned thing out of the way. Perhaps
this was my fault, not the cane's. I then used an NFB folding cane for a few
months, but it soon broke and I was forced to go back to my straight cane.
Now I use and love another Ambutech folding cane. It is one of their
Ultra-Light models with an NFB-style metal tip. This cane is very durable
and truly lives up to the ultra-light name. I was able to keep the metal tip
I like and get much of the advantages I found in my NFB cane while still
enjoying the convenience of its ability to fold. I would strongly encourage
you to look into this cane as you are searching for the right one for you.

As for cane technique, I believe there is no law which forces me to use one
technique alone. I therefore use a variety of techniques at different times
and in different situations. In most situations I find myself using the
tap-slide (sometimes referred to as touch-drag) technique to which Kirt
referred in his message. However, I sometimes switch to constant contact or
2-point-touch when I am approaching a certain surface, e.g. steps or
escalators. I also use a technique called "pencil grip" whenever I am in a
crowded or tight space. This involves sliding my hand down to about the
middle of the shaft and sweeping with a narrower arc than I would in the
usual, open-palm method. This technique helps me get through crowds while
avoiding tripping anyone. When I am using sighted guide, I also often switch
my cane to pencil grip to avoid drifting my cane out and hitting either the
guide or another passerby. As you can see, then, there are many cane
techniques you can use and many situations in which to use all of them. I
would advise you to become familiar with all these methods and choose which
works best for you at any given time.

I hope these suggestions and experiences help you and I apologize for the
lengthy message. As you investigate which cane and technique(s) works best
for you, I would like to leave you with this thought: take what you like and
leave the rest. You will find that the NFB has many members with many
beliefs about travel and about blindness in general. There will be some who
will try to persuade you that their way is the only way to go. Don't let
that dissuade you from doing your own exploration. Only you know what is
best for you. With this in mind, I leave you to consider my thoughts and
those of others, but decide for yourself. Good luck in this endeavor.

Chris Nusbaum

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Patrick Bennet
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2014 3:50 PM
To: patrick.bennet807 at gmail.com
Subject: [nabs-l] NFB and canes and travel

Hey everyone,

I just joined the list. I have some questions about cane travel and I hope
you might be able to help me with this. Before I ask, I should probably
explain.

For years I received instruction in O&M through my school district. I was
given a folding cane with a standard rolling tip, which seems to be pretty
commonly ordered by most agencies and districts. I think they come from a
place in Canada .... but don't quote me on that. That is what I've always
been used to. They seem decent enough.

But, I've read some online literature from the NFB about cane travel,
including structured discovery (as opposed to routes) and a different kind
of cane you use that is lighter an uses a metal tip. I've also heard about
something called a rainshine tip. Maybe they are the same things.

Anyway, I've always been taught to hold the cane with the palm of the hand
over it, with the index finger pointing down the flat side. This allows the
cane with a roller tip to stay on the ground, also called constant contact.
Is this not correct? From what I've read on the NFB website, your canes have
metal tips, which would seem harder to slide over rough or cracked areas but
would give more feedback. I also read somewhere that the grip is supposed to
be different. In short, I'm wondering what the differences and advantages
are. If so, I'd like to learn more. I've already read that they are lighter.
Do you use them or hold them differently with another grip? Can NFB canes
take roller tips and use constant contact, and if not, why? Is there really
that much of an advantage to a cane that doesn't fold? I'm curious to learn
about the differences, because I've never heard about them otherwise.

Thanks,
Pat

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