[nagdu] beginning to use a cane

Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com
Wed Dec 21 20:56:51 UTC 2011


I had someone hold my cane while we did a horse drawn carriage ride. The guy who held it said nobody treated him differently.
Had someone else hold my cane when I was flying and she said the same, no weirdness.
I put my cane in a bunch of queue sticks when I was dancing and that worked well too.
I did have people think my daughter was blind when she'd use her cane. Funny as hell as nobody wanted to outright ask if she could or couldn't see so they'd stumble all over the question


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lyn Gwizdak
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 3:46 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] beginning to use a cane

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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>>>>>>>>
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