[nagdu] First cane walk!

Wed Jun 23 16:58:22 UTC 2010

Rebecca,

I have both in my stable of canes, partially from having to try out
everything on my own (expensive!) and because I have come to use different
types for different purposes, and also different tips on the Ambutechs.  I
use the graphite ones.  I think.  I have another couple that I ordered
starting with A, because it sounded like ambutech, and they have aluminum
joins.  I also have a bunch of tips for those.  Good grief!  And, of course,
a couple of NFB canes and a telescoping cane that I need to replace because
it no longer collapses....

Anyway, on ordinary surfaces -- city sidewalks, or paved walking paths and
the like, I find the feedback between the Ambutech and the NFB cane very
different, and can't honestly say which I prefer for that.  The NFB cane is
enough lighter that I usually take it.  I do find it more frustrating on
rough surfaces, like the road around our immediate neighborhood.  Then
again, I'm usually walking Mitzi there, so I just carry the cane and follow
the dog because she likes to leash guide.  /smile/

For indoors, like in the grocery store or whatever, I find the NFB cane --
especially the one that's a couple of inches shorter easier to manage, and
the different sound from the tip and taps does give me a better idea of
where things are and what's what.  Since I learned with the Ambutechs,
though, I feel fairly comfortable with the feedback from them, too.

So maybe it's a matter of preference and what you're used to?  Which type of
cane gives the best feedback could also depend on environment.  So in a
noisy city, the tapping of the NFB tip, as well as the lighter weight and
springier action seems to give better sound feedback and ground feedback....

And that's about what I know about that.  /grin/  I prefer dog for any
environment, especially the city.  Moreso since she's grown up enough to
ignore the pigeons that like to tease her. /lol/  She really likes downtown,
too, so we move right a long at a jaunty pace while she does her downtown
prance.  /lol/  For some reason, the sighted friends with whom I end up
doing downtown Portland are both strollers and amblers, so we spend a lot of
time having to stop and wait for them to catch up even when we slow way, way
down.  They are certain Mitzi's going to get me done in by moving so fast,
but I like her pace.  Oh, well.  I scare them with the cane, too, because I
like to move right along and have the same problem I do with dog of having
to remember to stop and wait or turn around and go back.  /lol/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 4:59 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] First cane walk!

Mark, 
I also use the Ambuteck cane. How does it give less feedback then the
NFB model?

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 5:03 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] First cane walk!

My personal preference of cane is the ambutec 5 part aluminum folding
cane 
with a rolling marshmallow tip.  I find that it does a good job with not

getting itself stuck in cracks in the sidewalk. The downside of such a
cane 
is it gives you less feedback than the NFB variety.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gail" <deerskin at oct.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 3:14 PM
Subject: [nagdu] First cane walk!

> Hello all!
>
> I did it- sort of! Just went out with my long cane for the first time,
for 
> a
> walk up to the corner and back. I was wearing my Cocoon sunglasses,
but 
> they
> are just good sunglasses, not blocking like sleepshades. And I have to
say 
> I
> felt a lot safer, reaching out ahead of me like that, rather than
creeping
> along with both crutches, using the left to check out things as I have
had
> to do. The only thing I didnt like was that the cane has a flat metal
tip
> that scrapes, rattles and catches on everything, even the small line
dents
> they put on side walks for each square of concrete. So I would have 
> several
> free steps then *BONK*, dead stop on one of those nothing cracks! Of 
> course
> it showed me well the important cracks, dead bushes sticking out-took
me a
> few moments to figure out what had caught and tangled it, never had
that
> kind of thing stop me on a walk before with my dogs!- but once
untangled, 
> I
> was trundling merrily along again. Went up to the corner, and was
trying 
> to
> figure out what would show me I was AT the corner. It has a curb cut,
and 
> is
> straight in line with the line of travel, so I have to think of how to

> know
> its there, with other corners in town.
>
> But that was SO cool- instead of creeping, I was able to walk much
faster
> than I have been in a couple years!
> Have a question- should I change to a rollerball tip? Does it give as
much
> information, without catching on things like normal sidewalk lines?
And 
> what
> size would fit the free canes that the NFB gives out? I've found good 
> prices
> on tips on Amazon, but dont know what size to choose.
>
> Gail
>
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