[nagdu] beginning to use a cane

Lyn Gwizdak linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Wed Dec 21 20:45:37 UTC 2011


Yeah, Larry, I did finally return and met Charlie on the MTA as wwell! LOL!

I didn't care about the stares either - and yeah, hope folks liked what they 
saw!  Nobody ever asked me for a date, either - sigh.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 10:46 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] beginning to use a cane


> You just didn't want to use the MTA for fear of never returning!  I 
> understand your feelings though.  I myself have never really cared about 
> what everyone else thaught.  Yah, I was always kind of cocky that way.  I 
> remember while attending Northern Michigan University in 1981, when I gave 
> my cane to a roommate.  He was really unnerved by everyones stares.  I 
> followed him through the isles and folks thaught I was his keepper!  When 
> he gave me back my cane, he asked how I could stand all the stares.  I 
> told him I usually don't notice them but when I do, I hope they like what 
> they're seeing!  Especialy the girls!!
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lyn Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 1:14 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] beginning to use a cane
>
>
>> Buddy,
>> I think this is very true in that some folks would rather have people 
>> think they are drunk rtather than someone seeing that they are actually 
>> visually impaired or blind.  That is the stigma of blindness talking!
>>
>> I remember back in the early 1970s when I moved to Boston and had to 
>> travel in an urban envirnment on my own.  Previously to that, I was 
>> always with someone because there was no public transportation at all and 
>> I rode everywhere in a car.  If I did walk, it was on quiet residential 
>> streets going to or coming home from school.  There was a shopping center 
>> nearby but on my side of a very busy street so I never had to cross that.
>>
>> In Boston, my friends introduced me to a white cane - I had never seen 
>> one before!  The blind people I grew up with never used canes.  They went 
>> sighted guide with family members.  At that time I could see quite well 
>> although I was still legally blind.  I could get around pretty well 
>> without any travel aids.  But at night, I had NO vision and needed a 
>> cane. Previously, I NEVER went out at night except for Halloween where I 
>> knew the neighborhood very well and next to no car traffic.
>>
>> When I started to use a cane, I did feel very self concious and that I 
>> stuck out rather than blending in as I did in the past.  I did lose 
>> enough vision to force the issue when a car almost ran me and my roommate 
>> over - her dog did a great traffic check!  I felt that I was now in more 
>> danger without the cane than with it.  With the cane, drivers can see 
>> that I had a vision problem.  So, I realized that it was time to use the 
>> cane and it was good.
>>
>> AS far as being a bigger target for crime, yeah, this can happen because 
>> the perp woould know the blind person could never identify them in court 
>> or to a police officer.  I think we just have to be more cautious and 
>> aware of our surroundings than most sighted people do.
>>
>> Prior to cane use, people would think I was an idiot if I made a crossing 
>> error because I couldn't see the signal - days before audible signals, 
>> folks!  With the cane, people didn't think this way anymore outright. 
>> They most likely thought I was now an idiot BECAUSE I was blind! LOL!
>>
>> I think that the time someone needs to start using a cane and their 
>> resistance to it isn't too unlike when a person has to give up their 
>> drivers license.  The driver gives up freedom and mobility.  the new cane 
>> user gives up being able to melt into the rest of the crowd without 
>> something to make him stick out like a sore thumb.
>>
>> Using a cane is a decision that needs to be made by the person and 
>> sometimes a person needs a wake up call when they almost get killed.  But 
>> I hope that most people don't wait to get killed before using a cane!
>>
>> I did finally do cane travel lessons under blindfold and found it very 
>> beneficial to allowing my other senses to give me feedback that my eyes 
>> couldn't give me.  Although I prefer using a dog, I still do use my cane 
>> regularly - especialy when grocery shopping when I have to wrestle a cart 
>> on and off the bus and the dog gets in the way.
>>
>> Merry Christmas and Happy Honakka every one!
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Buddy Brannan" <buddy at brannan.name>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 6:34 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some one stole my cane !
>>
>>
>>>I can. There are some people out there, believe it or not, who think it's 
>>>much preferable to be thought drunk, stoned, rude, slow-witted, or any 
>>>number of other things, so long as no one thinks that they are blind. 
>>>After all, if you're blind, you are necessarily less capable, less 
>>>self-reliant, less independent, less able, and (mostly) less of a human 
>>>being than if you are not. Better to be thought sighted and [insert any 
>>>impairing condition] than to be thought of as blind. Much better.
>>> --
>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Dec 20, 2011, at 8:30 AM, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) wrote:
>>>
>>>> Can you guys explain?
>>>> I wa talking to a guy who has RP. He said people think he's drunk. I 
>>>> told him a cane would solve that problem. He told me he doesn't "need a 
>>>> cane", which I took to mean he's okay with people thinking he's wasted.
>>>> Can somebody explain. I don't get it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>>>> Behalf Of Tami Kinney
>>>> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 9:02 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some one stole my cane !
>>>>
>>>> Yeah, I did things kinda that way, too. So long as no one realized I 
>>>> was
>>>> using it to compensate for tunnel vision and night blindness. Which of
>>>> course, I did not have because I did *not* have Retinitis Pigmentosa.
>>>> Denial, much, folks? /lol/
>>>>
>>>> Tami
>>>>
>>>> On 12/19/2011 04:22 PM, Brenda wrote:
>>>>> Interesting about using a tree branch. Growing up, we went camping 
>>>>> with
>>>>> my Dad. The first thing I would do would be find a hiking stick. I did
>>>>> not use it like you would a white cane, but it was still very helpful.
>>>>> We would hike a lot and my stick would tell me the terrain. Thing is, 
>>>>> I
>>>>> would never have been allowed to use it at home since I had 20/200
>>>>> vision. Too bad. Brenda
>>>>>
>>>>> On 12/19/2011 7:02 PM, Lea williams wrote:
>>>>>> the thing about using a branch is that the branch is heavier. I did
>>>>>> this once for a couple of weeks when I left my cane over at a family
>>>>>> house and they took that long to get it back to me. My arm hurt a lot
>>>>>> cause a branch is heavier.
>>>>>> It will work, but I would rather use a broom stick or something. LOL,
>>>>>> the sight for that one. If you could, you could request a free one
>>>>>> from the NFB, it is strait, so if this is possible, get one of those
>>>>>> to use as a back up. I rather have a folding one though. I have a
>>>>>> small ID one that I use. I love it better than the heavy ones.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 12/19/11, Dan Weiner<dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net> wrote:
>>>>>>> Just cut a limb from a tree, it will be just as useful as the 
>>>>>>> average
>>>>>>> cane,
>>>>>>> a cane being a stick after all.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>>> Of Doug Parisian
>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 5:18 PM
>>>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some one stole my cane !
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Perhaps a little better choice of friends and/or acquaintances would
>>>>>>> alleviate the problem?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I've had canes run over by cars, tripped over by some mental midget 
>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>> other, and even attempted leadings by some unfortunate grabbing my
>>>>>>> stick by
>>>>>>> it's end but never stolen. Must be the company I keep.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Doug: Raising Cain when Able.
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)"<REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
>>>>>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
>>>>>>> Users'"
>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 1:53 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some one stole my cane !
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Maybe the person needed it? I met a family that was new to this
>>>>>>>> country, had a member that was blind and wanted to know where to 
>>>>>>>> get a
>>>>>>>> cane. I'm not sure they knew what a cane was until they saw me 
>>>>>>>> using
>>>>>>>> mine,
>>>>>>>> thought "What a cool idea" and came over to talk to me. If I'd had
>>>>>>>> another one on me, I'd have probably given them the one I was 
>>>>>>>> using.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> They were hoping/expecting you could just buy one at any store.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> And, why not buy a few backup canes that meet your needs? I treat 
>>>>>>>> canes
>>>>>>>> like shoes, I have one I use but I also have a few backups that 
>>>>>>>> meet my
>>>>>>>> needs, a broken cane serves me no purpose so I don't hang onto 
>>>>>>>> them,
>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>> as I wouldn't hang onto shoes I couldn't wear. Ditto for a cane 
>>>>>>>> that is
>>>>>>>> too long, it'd be like hanging onto shoes that were too small.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Since this seems to happen a fair bit to you, can you keep the cane
>>>>>>>> say in
>>>>>>>> something you hang onto like apurse? Or just keep the strap around 
>>>>>>>> your
>>>>>>>> wrist so you are in contact with it when it isn't in use?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What happened was wrong, I'm just not feeling the outrage the list
>>>>>>>> seems
>>>>>>>> to be feeling here.
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>>>> Of Brittney N. Mejico
>>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 6:27 AM
>>>>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Some one stole my cane !
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> That is really awful who would do such a thing. Hope you get a new 
>>>>>>>> cain
>>>>>>>> soon
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: Mardi Hadfield
>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 12:59 AM
>>>>>>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Some one stole my cane !
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi every one, Mardi here. I went Christmas shopping the other day
>>>>>>>> and some
>>>>>>>> one stole my white cane.I keep it in a leather holster type of 
>>>>>>>> pouch
>>>>>>>> attached to my wheelchair when I am not using it. It is quite snug
>>>>>>>> fitting
>>>>>>>> so it is impossible for it to have fallen out.When I left the store 
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> headed to the bus station,I reached for it so I could get into the
>>>>>>>> wheelchair bay when I got on the bus. It was not their! I had it 
>>>>>>>> when I
>>>>>>>> got
>>>>>>>> off the bus so it disappeared somewhere between the bus station and 
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> store.The only time I use it when I have my dog with me is getting
>>>>>>>> on or
>>>>>>>> off the bus.This is the second time someone has stolen a cane from 
>>>>>>>> me.
>>>>>>>> This
>>>>>>>> is extremely annoying as I can not afford to buy another one until 
>>>>>>>> next
>>>>>>>> month.I have an old broken one and a very long NFB cane as a back 
>>>>>>>> up.
>>>>>>>> Today
>>>>>>>> when I went out to pay a bill,I had to use the very Long NFB cane 
>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>> I did
>>>>>>>> not take the dog with me in Carla's car.This cane would be fine if 
>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>> were
>>>>>>>> walking but is way to long for use with a wheelchair.It also has a
>>>>>>>> mettle
>>>>>>>> tip which gets caught in every crevice and pokes me in the face.I 
>>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>>> know why someone would want to steal a blind person's cane??????? 
>>>>>>>> Fake
>>>>>>>> service dogs, now fake blind people? What is happening to this 
>>>>>>>> world.
>>>>>>>> Mardi and Shaman
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
>>>>>>>> http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>> net
>>>>>>>>
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