[nagdu] Some one stole my cane !

Thu Dec 22 00:17:00 UTC 2011

Brenda,

Well said. Even looking back for myself and realizing how cut and dried 
the decision should have been, the sheer amount and degree of negative 
feedback and commentary from everywhere but a couple of close friends 
was truly astounding. When you are the one making that transition for 
yourself, all of the extreme input is the *last* thing you need just 
then. Or ever. People don't treat other people that way. So you're 
probably also having to cope with the undeniable realization that you 
ain't people no more. Second class citizen would be a big jump up the 
social ladder.

When you're using the cane without training, just figuring it out on 
your own, people will often think you're drunk either way... Still, it 
is impossible not to note that your garden variety drunk is way up the 
social ladder from your garden variety blind woman, with or without 
alcohol or alleged alcohol. This could drive a person to drink. /lol/

If one is just really lucky, during the process of checking out 
resources at this time, will lead to being told at several points that 
it would help if you were alcoholic because they could provide you 
resources for that. But since you're blind... Or is that just an Oregon 
thing? If your disability is substance abuse, apparently, the system 
will work for you because there a all sorts of resources specifically 
for victims of substance abuse. When the system tells you this 
repeatedly and you are able to begin to observe that this, in fact, 
so... You can begin to wonder why you spent all your adult life working 
and going to school and just generally being a productive citizen while 
paying all that income tax to support the system. You really do.

Going through all that as the only blind person ever to be seen walking 
with a white cane about town, just living life like it was normal, was a 
reall hoot and did have its moments. /lol/ But I cannot say those were 
fun times. Sheesh!

Tami

On 12/21/2011 07:43 AM, Brenda wrote:
> Hi Tracy
> I agree 110% with everything you say and you describe exactly why I use
> a cane. However, people who have no knowledge of canes may not be able
> to make the transition because of guilt, not wanting to be considered
> fakers and discouragement from spouse, relatives and friends perhaps
> telling them they will be targets true or not. I used to be the same way
> as the man you mentioned who had trouble with street crossings even
> after I carried my cane. Thank goodness for Leader and the internet.
>
> I'm not saying the man with RP should not use a cane, but people need to
> understand where he might be coming from and gently talk to him and
> encourage him that it is okay to use a cane without nagging or pushing
> him. He will have to make the decision on his own but may need help.
> Brenda
> On 12/21/2011 7:59 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
>> Hi Brenda.
>> It's interesting to hear your perspective.
>> I don't know that carrying a cane makes you a target, though. My husband
>> has some residual vision. On those occasions he doesn't carry a cane, he
>> has more trouble because people don't realize he's blind. They don't
>> understand why he's standing at the street corner, waiting for a clear
>> indication to go. They don't understand why he looks at them sideways,
>> because he can't see them straight on. When he's got his cane, which I'm
>> glad to say is almost always, then they understand he can't see well and
>> help him out if he needs it.
>>
>>
>> A long time ago, the New York City chapter had a member whose husband
>> didn't like her to carry a cane. She fell on the subway tracks and was
>> killed. Maybe if she'd had her cane with her, it wouldn't have happened.
>> Long-time chapter members have never forgotten.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>> Actually, I wonder if the person with RP can see enough to navigate
>>> tolerably. People can tell if you have some remaining vision. I was
>>> told by a mobility instructor "you have more vision then you realize."
>>> That comment alone made me consider putting my cane away and I
>>> questioned my attendance at the training. A friend pointed out they
>>> would never had accepted me if they felt I didn't need the help, but my
>>> instructor's comment really bothered me. For partial sighted people who
>>> could benefit from a cane maybe the fact that we are treated as fakers
>>> is a deterrent to using a white cane. The transition to cane use is a
>>> personal process that each person including this person with RP has to
>>> go through. Just walking down the street I can see well enough to walk
>>> a straight line. Actually I think I walk straighter because of my cane,
>>> but I still feel guilty about using a cane because i have residual
>>> vision. It isn't an easy thing to just start using a cane. Another
>>> issue, my husband says when i carry my cane I am a target because people
>>> see that I am blind.
>>>
>>> Maybe the man with RP has never been given the opportunity and
>>> introduction to O&M because he has some residual vision so the rehab
>>> people in his state expect him to rely on his vision. I was never given
>>> the option to learn to use a white cane and no counseling in the pros
>>> and cons. When I made the decision for myself based on my life's
>>> knowledge, I saught the help I needed. this man may not have had the
>>> exposure.
>>>
>>> Brenda
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 12/20/2011 9:34 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>>>> 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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>>>>>>>>
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