[nabs-l] NFB and canes and travel

Mon Jan 20 21:57:32 UTC 2014

Hi Pat,

I grew up using an aluminum folding cane with roller tip, too, and my
teacher  actively refused  to let me try an NFB cane or a cane that
went up higher than my sternum. Like many others I didn't really give
it a second thought. However, once I started going to NFB conventions
and meeting people who were much better cane travelers than I who
loved their NFB canes, I decided to give one a try.  It took a little
adjusting at first, but now I could never go back to the aluminum
cane. The NFB cane is just so much lighter and more sensitive. I use a
combination of constant contact and two-point touch depending on the
surface I am walking on and  whether I'm just going straight for a
while, looking for something specific, or trying to echolocate.
I use a straight cane most of the time. It has nothing to do with
philosophy, since even when I used a folding cane I never hid it. I
simply feel the straight cane gives me better feedback and is easier
to handle while  walking. When I'm going somewhere that involves
crowds and not much walking, then I will take an NFB folding cane. I
don't like to walk long distances with it but it's easier to store.
I've had bad experiences with telescoping canes breaking or getting
stuck in the telescoped position, so I use a folding cane instead.

Arielle

On 1/20/14, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
>
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