[nabs-l] NFB and canes and travel

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi,

I've used a variety of canes, both from the NFB and not.  My first
cane was a straight aluminum cane with a golfclub grip, and I liked it
because it was light and also had the nice rubber grip.  It was a
great cane for getting me started because it was hollow, yet durrable.
 My Orientation and Mobility instructor and I actually made it by
hand, cut the aluminum tube to the correct length and everything.

I then moved into the folding aluminum canes and switched from pencil
to rolling marshmallow tips.  I didn't like these as much; though the
tips were a big improvement, I hated how heavy the cane was.  I had
several of these before I decided to experiment with the NFB canes.  I
still have the free one I requested, and even followed NFB protocol by
ordering it tall.  I have found that I prefer my cane to go to my chin
per how I was taught in elementary school, and personally like it
because I walk fast and it is long enough to help me but not long
enough to trip up other people.  I know the NFB says the longer canes
are better for fast walkers, but for me I was always concerned about
tripping up people in front of me and didn't get the range of motion I
wanted out of it.  I now use a telescopic NFB cane and love it.

It is possible to do constant contact with an NFB cane, and I have not
found the rounded grip to be a problem.  I have retained a lot of my
original cane technique through all the changes.  The only time I use
the palm up technique is when I'm holding the cane closer to me, as it
is a bit more comfortable that way and allows for more motion closer
to the body.  It's good to use both these gripping methods so you can
go between them as you see fit.  Both really do help.

I agree with Cindy.  Try out one of the free NFB canes and see if you
like it.  The lightness was a huge plus for me, and with all the
walking I do around campus I'm glad my wrist isn't straining.  If you
get a chance to see someone else's telescopic or NFB folding cane try
that out too.  The more variations in canes you try, the more you'll
learn about what does and does not work for you.

Personally, I love the NFB philosophy of keeping the cane visible, but
I don't think folding up the cane is hiding blindness necessarily.
Blindness is still there whether the cane is straight and unfoldable,
or folded in a lap or on a desktop.  I think the intent behind folding
up a cane is what matters; if you're folding it up to hide your
blindness, that is very different from folding it up for convenience.
It's like how people put away glasses, hearing aids, or other devices
when they are not using them; it doesn't mean they don't need glasses,
or cannot hear without hearing aids, but it's a matter of convenience.
 Just my take on it.

On 1/20/14, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Kaiti