[nagdu] Navigating without a cane

[Larry D. Keeler]

Brenda, I am of the philosophy that if it works, then use it!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brenda" <bjnite at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2011 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Navigating without a cane


> Hi Jenny, Sheila and list
> I totally agree with you about using a cane.  There needs to be balance 
> and acceptance of what people know they need.
>
> I find it amazing that a totally or nearly totally blind person would be 
> told not to use their cane.Any public school who does that should not let 
> any of the students or staff wear glasses.As for people telling a person 
> they don't need their cane, how do they know?Even with remaining vision I 
> find benefit from my cane and use it all the time outside of the house.I 
> took O&M to learn traffic as I could no longer cross streets safely.I felt 
> guilty carrying a cane because I had remaining vision.My instructor didn't 
> help when she told me I had more vision than I realized.Now how would she 
> know that?How would she know what I realized as she was not me?Just 
> because I could walk a straight line didn't mean I didn't need a cane.I 
> used my cane all the time in the facility.With all the sounds and lighting 
> and my vision askew, I was able to relax.Because I used my cane I had the 
> confidence to make it look like I didn't need one.My biggest concern is 
> that when the time comes I will be told I don't need a guide dog.Guess 
> I'll deal with it then.
> Brenda
>
>
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>
> On 10/9/2011 7:58 AM, Jennifer Piening wrote:
>> Hi!  I have no problem with not using a cane when I have been given a dog 
>> at a school.  That seems perfectly reasonable to me.  When you go to an 
>> NFB training center, you know beforehand that you are expected to use a 
>> cane.  You are not expected to go around without using either.
>>      I have such a strong opinion about this issue, because for a lot of 
>> my life, people have been telling me to put away my cane, or talking 
>> about how I really don't need to use my cane here, or that it seems like 
>> I know the area well enough not to use my cane and on and on and on... It 
>> sounds to me as if I am somehow an inferior traveler because I choose to 
>> use my cane when people make comments about not needing to use it. what 
>> about wanting/choosing to use my cane?  Shouldn't it be a choice that I 
>> make for myself?  I find it embarrassing to travel in unfamiliar places 
>> or places with a lot of other people without using my cane.  I feel like 
>> a bumbling fool.  I have no problem with others deciding to travel in 
>> whichever way they prefer.  I think the guide dog schools should allow us 
>> to choose as well, until we get our dog.
>>      Jenny
>
>>
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