[nagdu] Telescoping canes
Linda Gwizdak
linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Sun Dec 6 20:19:11 UTC 2009
Thanks, Ann. Yeah, I can sure see where an assistance animal would not fit
into your work schedule but glad to hear that there is still a place for
your Panda in your life!
Holiday wishes for you and your family!
Linda and Landon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Telescoping canes
> Hi, Linda and everyone,
>
> My present job is very itinerant. I visit homes, schools, preschools, and
> hospitals over an area of 5 or more counties to visit my students. There
> is no way I could achieve all the required travel except by having my own
> car and driver. Consequently, I am delivered door to door by my driver,
> who happens to be my retired research chemist husband. So there is very
> little work for a guide animal in my present work day. I use my cane
> within the buildings, although it would be nice sometimes to have Panda
> there to help me navigate around the buildings.
>
> Once I get to my locations, there is often so little space that I can
> hardly find a spot to put down my bag of teaching materials, let alone a
> place to put a guide dog or horse. Many of the homes I visit present
> conditions that I would not want to expose a guide animal to. And in the
> schools and classrooms some of the children do have many sorts of
> allergies and many have compromised respiratory systems. Some are on
> ventilators. I would have to get medical clearance to bring any sort of
> animal into these places, I think.
>
> On top of all this, since I visit so many schools and have no "home base"
> or classroom space to call my own, I am a guest for an hour or even less
> in someone else's classroom. Neither the staff nor the children are
> accustomed to seeing a blind person traveling with a cane, let alone with
> a guide dog or guide horse. I would have to do a lot of education and
> desensitization to get to the point where my appearance in the halls of a
> school wouldn't cause a complete disruption of the normal routine. While
> I am sure that this effort would be very beneficial educationally for the
> children and adults in those environments, I really prefer to just go
> about my business of working with the visually impaired children and their
> peers and caregivers without the distraction of a very attractive animal,
> whether dog or horse, to constantly explain. People unfamiliar with the
> work of service animals tend to think it's all about the animal, rather
> than being just a way for a blind person to go about her life. People
> have a very hard time allowing the animal to just be there, especially
> when that animal is not a constant presence, but only an occasional
> visitor.
>
> So, the long and the short of it is that I don't usually bring Panda to
> work with me. I have brought her to schools upon request, and I do do
> educational talks about blindness for school groups, sometimes with Panda
> present and sometimes without Panda. For example, in January I am
> scheduled to do a talk about Louis Braille and braille literacy for the
> kindergarten through 3rd grade students at one of the elementary schools
> where I work. The talk is supposed to be only about 10 or 15 minutes. If
> I bring Panda, the event will inevitably turn into a question and answer
> session about guide horses. So I will probably not take Panda, so that I
> can keep the focus of the talk on how blind people read and write and
> perform other normal activities of life. I may mention or show pictures
> of blind people traveling with a guide dog or a guide horse, and I will
> demonstrate the use of the white cane, which many of the children will
> have observed me using while walking around the school building. I will
> probably touch on how blind people do other daily activities, like tell
> time, engage in sports and games, make art and music, help their kids do
> homework, and use a telephone and computer. At other times, I talk
> specifically about Panda, her training, and about guide and service
> animals and the etiquette of interacting with service animals and their
> handlers. But I find it difficult in a short presentation to cover all of
> this territory, so I tend to keep them pretty much separate.
>
> I do use Panda daily for walks and trips around my town and to do errands
> and on out of town trips as well. If I were still working in one school
> or one school district and were traveling on foot or by public
> transportation, I would probably choose to have my guide with me all the
> time during my work day. But in my current working conditions, if I had a
> guide dog instead of a guide horse, I don't know whether I would want to
> take the dog into many of the places where I have to go. The guide would
> probably spend a lot of time sitting out in the car with my husband
> waiting for me to come out, and then spend more time in the car traveling
> to the next place--not much of a life for either a guide dog or a guide
> horse.
>
> Unlike what might be expected of a guide dog, Panda seems to have adjusted
> well to not being with me during the work day. She is always glad to see
> me upon my return home and eager to spend the evening with me and to go
> out on our walks and adventures. But she doesn't get "rusty" or lose her
> working skills and she doesn't seem to need to be at my knee all the time
> to maintain our close relationship. So, for the time being at least, our
> current mode of operation seems to be working well enough. Some time in
> the not too distant future I would like to change my lifestyle to permit
> Panda and I to work together for more of the day. But that is for the
> future....
>
> Best,
> Ann
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "Linda Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 4:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Telescoping canes
>
>
>> Ann,
>> I forgot to ask - does Panda hang around the classroom with you and the
>> kids. Or do you use a cane to go to work and leave the mini horse at
>> home?
>>
>> Linda and Landon
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 12:19 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Telescoping canes
>>
>>
>>> Hi, All,
>>>
>>> When my first guide dog got ill and then died while still in service (at
>>> age 11), I was teaching in a high school and walking to and from school
>>> each day. I began using an NFB telescoping cane full-time at that time.
>>> I liked the sleek design and light weight of it. When collapsed, it
>>> looked like a white police night stick or a designer flashlight.
>>> However, I found that it did tend to collapse at inconvenient times,
>>> like in the middle of a street crossing if it hit a crack or bump in the
>>> pavement, and that this happened even if I had given each segment a
>>> twist when opening it. On the other hand, two of the segments would
>>> sometimes fuse together and refuse to collapse at all, which made it
>>> difficult to stow away.
>>>
>>> But the major disadvantage of the telescoping cane that I found was that
>>> it did not stand up well to the weight of 200-pound high school boys who
>>> always seemed to either be walking backwards down the high school
>>> corridors yelling something to their friends down the hall, oblivious to
>>> what was behind them, or who thought it was fun to jump over the white
>>> stick instead of walking around the blind teacher. As a result of these
>>> travel conditions, I had several shattered telescoping canes within a
>>> short period of time. And since they do shatter into dangerously sharp
>>> shards, rather than simply bending like an aluminum cane usually does, I
>>> soon gave up on the telescoping canes and switched to the old reliable
>>> aluminum folding models.
>>>
>>> I agree with the NFB that the "feel" of the lightweight straight cane is
>>> probably the most clear and distinct, and that it is therefore probably
>>> the best cane for gaining information about the travel environment.
>>> However, I do not think that it is necessary to exclusively use a long,
>>> straight, white cane in order to demonstrate one's acceptance of
>>> blindness. There are certainly circumstances in which a telescoping or
>>> folding cane is more suitable. I'm glad to see that the NFB is flexible
>>> enough to be selling other types of canes besides the straight canes.
>>>
>>> I currently work with a number of preschool and early school age
>>> children in classroom and daycare settings where there are many children
>>> present, both children with disabilities and those without disabilities,
>>> and I spend most of my time either on the floor playing with them or
>>> sitting at child-sized tables working with my little students. There is
>>> no corner where I could leave a straight cane where some curious child
>>> would not walk off with it to use as a spear or sword in a game of
>>> soldiers or knights, putting his classmates at great risk of injury.
>>> Besides, I need the cane for moving about the classrooms with their many
>>> toys and children strewn across the floor. If I used a straight cane
>>> and laid it on the floor whenever I sat down, the little ones would be
>>> tripping over it and trying to pry it out from under me. So I use a
>>> folding cane, and every time I sit down somewhere, I fold it up and
>>> place it under some part of my body because if I don't maintain contact
>>> with it, someone will assume it is just one of the toys and walk off
>>> with it. Despite the fact that I fold and unfold my cane many times a
>>> day, the elastic seems to hold up pretty well, and I have only had to
>>> replace the elastic a couple of times, which is much easier and less
>>> expensive than replacing a shattered telescoping cane.
>>>
>>> When I worked with my 3 guide dogs, and now when I travel with my
>>> miniature horse guide, I still carry a folding cane in my backpack, just
>>> in case I might want to use it for any number of reasons.
>>>
>>> My canes have definitely become longer over the years that I have been
>>> using them, and I definitely prefer a longer cane. When I was first
>>> instructed on the use of the white mobility cane in the early 1980's,
>>> the standard was still for a cane which only came up to the user's mid
>>> chest. I now use a cane which comes up to my chin at least, if not up to
>>> my nose.
>>>
>>> It's nice to have options to experiment with--and we haven't even
>>> touched on the subject of the many types of cane tips out there! For
>>> myself, the traditional straight cane tip seems to be the most practical
>>> and long-lasting.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the discussion of this interesting topic.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Ann
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 9:05 AM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Telescoping canes
>>>
>>>
>>>> The NFB stgore sells telescoping canes in a whole range of lengths.
>>>> Independent Living Aids sells the little cane Tami was talking about,
>>>> which is very short, but would suffice in a pinch and is very
>>>> convenient
>>>> to carry around as a backup.
>>>>
>>>> I carry a telescoping cane in my backpack in case of emergencies or
>>>> whatever. I like them for situations where I need the cane to get
>>>> small,
>>>> but I find that they sometimes telescope when I don't want them to,
>>>> like
>>>> when they hit a crack in the sidewalk. The trick is to twist the parts
>>>> a
>>>> little bit when the cane is extended, which helps the thing not to
>>>> collapse unexpectedly, though it still can sometimes.
>>>> For that reason, if I am not concerned about the size of my cane when
>>>> I'm
>>>> sitting around, I prefer a straight cane.
>>>> The telescoping cane is a lot less bulky than the folding cane. But my
>>>> husband has a very sturdy folding cane, which he prefers. He likes it
>>>> because it's really sturdy, for when people step on it. For me though,
>>>> it's too heavy.
>>>> HTH.
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>>> I keep hearing about these telescope canes. I have a solid one I got
>>>>> through
>>>>> the nfb and another one which I think you described a thinner one I
>>>>> use
>>>>> for
>>>>> formal events and such. Then I have another one which folds up into 4
>>>>> pieces
>>>>> and has an elastic cord running through it. I am curious about the
>>>>> telescope cane I keep hearing about. Tell me where I might be able to
>>>>> find
>>>>> one please?
>>>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>>>> CEO/Founder
>>>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>>>> New York, New York 10004
>>>>> www.myblindspot.org
>>>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one
>>>>> who is
>>>>> doing it."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 8:27 PM
>>>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dog responsibilities
>>>>>
>>>>> Rebecca,
>>>>>
>>>>> You raise really great points. It's easy to get caught up in the
>>>>> reason
>>>>> why
>>>>> to chose a guide dog. But it gives a good perspective to hear a guide
>>>>> dog
>>>>> user's reasons why she chose *not* to have a guide dog again.
>>>>>
>>>>> I can really see how a cane would be more useful in the situations you
>>>>> describe. Even without a squirming, stinky toddler, there have been a
>>>>> couple of times I wished I had a cane to hand to find out what the
>>>>> heck is
>>>>> all around me. /smile/ My telescoping cane sort of blew up and no
>>>>> longer
>>>>> telescopes, and it was a while before I got a new identity cane --
>>>>> this is
>>>>> a
>>>>> tiny, skinny folding cane, very light and fragile, but it does fit in
>>>>> my
>>>>> pocket or purse. Only when it's in my current purse, which carries a
>>>>> bunch
>>>>> of junk but is totally impractically for someone with her other hand
>>>>> full
>>>>> (I
>>>>> can't carry on my dog shoulder because it falls off and bonks the poor
>>>>> dog),
>>>>> I can't just whip it out to use to investigate! Usually where I start
>>>>> feeling a bit lost and confused is public restrooms, where I really
>>>>> don't
>>>>> want to touch anything to find what it is Mitzi is showing me.
>>>>> /shudder/
>>>>>
>>>>> We will not talk about the porta potty incident. I am still grossed
>>>>> out!
>>>>> And I made it a point to stop procrastinating getting a "pocket cane."
>>>>> /grin/
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for sharing.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 9:34 AM
>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dog responsibilities
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you Meghan.
>>>>> A couple other things which I failed to leave out of my earlier post.
>>>>> I found that when I was using a dog, people expected the dog to just
>>>>> know things. For example, I wanted a high chair for my daughter and
>>>>> when
>>>>> I asked for assistance, the question was "Can't your dog find one"?
>>>>> She
>>>>> could find chairs, but she couldn't distinguish between a high chair
>>>>> and
>>>>> a big person chair. So, no, in this case, she couldn't do the task I
>>>>> asked of her. When I used my cane, people were happy to help. The same
>>>>> thing was true of diaper changing facilities. Some places have
>>>>> changing
>>>>> tables in the rest rooms, some places hve tables that come down from
>>>>> the
>>>>> wall, and some have nothing. Other places have "diaper changing
>>>>> areas".
>>>>> My dog couldn't find the tables that fold out of the wall, and she
>>>>> treated the kind that are standing like counters. I find changing a
>>>>> diaper on the floor extremely painful and prefer to use a surface when
>>>>> possible, though I also want to use the right surface if one is
>>>>> present.
>>>>> The general attitude seemed to be "Won't the dog find what you need?"
>>>>> I
>>>>> even had someone ask me once, when my daughter was having a red-zone
>>>>> tantrum once "Why won't the dog calm her down"?
>>>>> With a cane, I get none of this. People are willing to show me things,
>>>>> sometimes a little too much, but at least they have the right attitude
>>>>> even if it may be for the wrong reasons. And, wrong reasons don't much
>>>>> matter when you've got a squirming kid with a poopie diaper stinking
>>>>> up
>>>>> the joint.
>>>>> The other thing is that you cannot ever leave a child alone. So if I
>>>>> got
>>>>> into a situation where I had to decide which one I was going to take,
>>>>> it
>>>>> was always the kid. I can remember once trying to get ready to go
>>>>> someplace, my daughter was fussy, it was pouring down rain, and I just
>>>>> couldn't deal with putting her down, getting my coat on, taking the
>>>>> dog
>>>>> out to go park, and then getting my daughter ready. I'd already gotten
>>>>> wet once taking the dog out at her regularly scheduled park break
>>>>> which
>>>>> was about an hour before we were to head out, I didn't think she would
>>>>> use the bathroom, and I simply didn't have it in me to take her out
>>>>> again for an event that was unlikely to happen. So, I left the dog
>>>>> home
>>>>> and used my cane. Leaving my daughter home and taking the dog was not
>>>>> an
>>>>> option legally or morally. We can debate all day if I morally was in
>>>>> the
>>>>> right with regard to the dog, but I didn't do anything illegal. I left
>>>>> water for her, I'd be home soon and she'd had a chance to go park.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Finally, it's physically easier to use a cane with my daughter. She
>>>>> likes to stop and look at random things, flowers, trucks, other kids,
>>>>> lights, and my dog was getting frustrated. She didn't understand why
>>>>> we
>>>>> didn't keep on moving. She would also get frustrated when I'd use my
>>>>> hands to look for the forementioned changing tables. She would either
>>>>> take me to the sink or the toilet, or she'd shut down and be like
>>>>> "Well,
>>>>> if you don't want me to guide in here, then I just won't guide when
>>>>> we're done either".I sympathize with the dog's perspective as nobody
>>>>> likes to feel useless, but I also couldn't deal with it either. It
>>>>> just
>>>>> took too much out of me.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf Of Meghan Whalen
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:25 AM
>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dog responsibilities
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for this post. I can tell a lot of time/thought went into
>>>>> it.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for sharing your thoughts Bebecca.
>>>>>
>>>>> meghan
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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