[NFBofSC] Free White Cane Program

[Jennifer Bazer]

Free White Cane Program


The National Federation of the Blind has distributed more than 64,000 free
white canes since 2008.

The white cane gives blind people the ability to achieve a full and
independent life, allowing us to travel freely and safely. We started our
free white cane program because we believe that no blind person should be
without a white cane, regardless of his or her ability to pay for it.

Your gift of a white cane could not have come at a better time for me! My
wonderful wife of forty-three years, who has Alzheimer's, has moved to an
assisted living facility. The only place I could find to get a cane was a
fourteen hour round trip for me and I can't drive anymore. What you have
done for me I will remember for the rest of my life.


Request a Free White Cane


To request a white cane, you can fill out our online application or mail a
completed application to our office.

*	 <http://freecane.nfb.org/> Free White Cane Online Application
*
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/free_white_cane_application.pdf>
Free White Cane Application (PDF); please mail the completed PDF application
to Free White Cane Program, National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico can request a cane for their personal use. Requests can be made
as often as every six months.


How to Choose Your Cane Size


The canes distributed through our free white cane program are straight
fiberglass canes (i.e., not folding or telescoping). All canes are white
with a loop on top of the handle and come with a cane tip.

For adult first-time cane users, we recommend measuring from your shoulders
to the floor. The cane needs to reach about two steps in front of where you
are stepping. The speed of your pace and length of your stride will make a
difference. More experienced cane travelers may wish to have a longer cane,
measuring at least chin height.

For children, teens, and young adults who are first-time cane users, we
recommend measuring from your chin to the floor. More experienced cane
travelers may wish to have a longer cane, measuring at least nose height.


Cane Travel Training


Because we are committed to ensuring that every blind person can acquire the
training he or she needs to use the white cane, we are proudly affiliated
with top-notch model  <https://nfb.org/about-us/training-centers> training
centers. The innovative training programs we have pioneered at these centers
are increasingly being replicated by other rehabilitation agencies and
providers.

For more information on cane travel and techniques, we invite you to read, "
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/books/cfcane/canetc.htm> Care and
Feeding of the Long White Cane: Instructions in Cane Travel for Blind
People."


More Information


For more information, please contact us at
<mailto:freecane at nfb.org?subject=Free%20Cane%20Program> freecane at nfb.org or
410-659-9314.

 

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