[nagdu] walking with a cane

Tue Mar 30 16:42:32 UTC 2010

Albert,

I suddenly realized the true benefit of learning to use the cane out in the
boonies.  Not so many people challenges while you're learning the basics and
how to know where things are when they're moving around, and you won't find
them with your cane until they find it to step on.  So early on like that,
that would be terrifying, I can only imagine.  I was lucky.  Before I moved
back to the big civilized world with crowds and stuff, I happened to be
talking to a blind friend from Boston who told me how many times his cane
has been stepped on and broken...

UPS delivered my new backup folding cane the very next day!  Thank goodness
for overnight express.  /grin/

Then I think my cane almost got tripped over or got bumped and I realized
that I was not prepared!  Better get a backup for my backup, just in case!
/lol/

Well, it also gave me a chance to try out various lengths and types and...
But there were times not so very long ago when I would go looking for a
"purse" cane all over the house, with Mitzi all harnessed up and walking
perfectly beside my leg while I dodged around in a dither...  Then I would
realize what I was doing and decide I would just have to live dangerously.
Good heavens!

So when I got home and was sort of absently looking through my purse for
something else, gues what I would lay hands on?  /lol/  I think I once had
four in there, for just in case.

Every spring in Portland, I have to go out and practice "people detection"
with cane and dog both.  Mitzi makes it easier, of course, but in stores and
stuff I get sloppy over winter about staying in position with her.  Because
in our rainy gray winters, Portlanders seem to go underground.  You can
wander around freely and it almost seems you have the place to yourself.
Especially in dog parks and on the trails and stuff.  Just me and my dog!
/grn/

Then the sun shines for five minutes, and it's a whole different city!
Really!  There are people everywhere!  It's wonderful, really, but...  I
have to straighten up and unlearn all my bad habits.  Good grief.  Also,
every spring the past few years, I have less vision, so I need to upgrade
the good habits and skills I developed last spring and summer.

So I pretty much do what you do and take myself back to school and
practicing the skills I keep thinking I should be able to use by now without
having to take time to practice....  Ah, well.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 2:45 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] walking with a cane

Jonathan your point is well made and not lost on me at all. I travel without
my dog often, well often enough. I use the cane to go here and there around
my neighborhood to an from friends houses. I tend not to do much cane travel
without being accompanied by my partner brian or my friend Suzanne when I do
go out with my cane. I have traveled ever so infrequently in the city by
cane since getting my guide. truthfully that has everything to do with the
fact that my cane was stepped on and broken on three occasions in my first 4
months using it. I am sure much of it had to do with my ignorance on how to
anticipate others not seeing me, but  it set the tone and caused a little
fear, a lot of reluctance and a rush to get a dog. I try to get past that in
all I do, but I love the dog and how we work together. I do go out at night
without him to bars and clubs to sort of put me in the middle of instances
where others are present so I can anticipate needing to retract the cane
quickly and so far so good. that is why I am asking about canes in this
thread because I want to be a better cane traveler for sure.

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."

Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jonathan Lyens
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 5:09 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] walking with a cane

Albert et al,

This is a question that has recently hit very close to home for me. In
October of last year my guide of 4 years took ill with a very serious
disease that might mean the end of his working life. The staff at GDB
has been amazing in providing him the medical treatment he needs, and
allowing me as much time as needed to see if he will be able to return
to being an active guide. 

However, I live in a small one bedroom apartment in San Rafael CA with
my wife, guide, and career change. I'm very possessive over my guide,
and I refuse to simply retire him and give him away to a family member
or his puppy raisers. He is my first guide, and that might be what's
going on... But, I can't retire him and get another guide; 2 people and
3 dogs in a 650 sq ft apartment is just trouble! 

However, while all of this is going on, I am still required to go to
work. I work in San Francisco (a 45 minute bus ride each way). So, when
it came time, I grabbed my cane and left for work. 

Prior to joining the NFB, this is something I could never have done. I
joined the Federation after becoming a guide dog user, and one of the
first things I was taught was the need to maintain my cane skills.
However, with a short ambutech cane with a roller tip, I did not have
the confidence to walk far at all independently. However, at my first
state convention in Sacramento, a very good friend handed me his cane
and said "here, try this". It was like night and day. I found myself
walking confidently, at a normal pace with my head held high. 

I really don't know where I'd be now if it were not for my NFB family
educating me on the need to maintain my skills with the cane, as a guide
dog user; and showing me how much different an NFB cane can be. These
skills, and the confidence that goes with them, are allowing me to
remain an independent blind person regardless of my mobility tool. I am
living proof that all guide dog users must continually work at
maintaining their cane skills. I know many guide dog users that say they
never go anywhere without their dogs. But, I think we all should at
times. I think it requires us all to keep up our skills and also helps
the dog learn how to be alone. No matter how much we all love our dogs,
they cannot be there for us forever. At some point, we will need to rely
upon our cane skills once again. 

Besides, absence does make the heart grow fonder. 

I hope my story helps to inspire some people to dust off that old cane
and try it out once again. 

All The Best-

Jonathan
Jonathan T. Lyens MPA 
Email: jonathan at lyens.com 
Fax: (321) 256-8896 
Skype: jlyens 
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 10:20 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] walking with a cane

For what it is worth what with me being only 4 years old in this blind
life,
I feel more security and am more assured with my gate when walking with
my
guide. I am always conscious of others not seeing the cane, which does
happen, and so I am not as out there with it as I should be. partly do
to
the concern of having it stepped on and compromised, and also not
wanting to
trip others up. Still learning to find a balance with that one.

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."

Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of d m gina
Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 12:14 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] walking with a cane

The other night I left my dog at home, and decided that I would take my
cane.
this is interesting for me, because I step differently with a cane,
I felt as if my feet were on pavement with no shoes at all.
Also I have an over rite tendency.
I didn't feel as light on my feet as I do walking with a dog.
do any of you havr the same kind of feelings?
Or are you so good at it you can walk freely.
Just my thoughts.
Wanted to share.

-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

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