[Ohio-Talk] children using a cane

[ali benmerzouga]

Hi Marianne,

Thanks for posting such an important issue.

First, I do agree with you that we should never leave home without having
and using our long white cane even if we have a sighted guide. It should
apply to kids too.

The White cane is our eyes!

The other thing, when roaming in your own country/property, you never know
when there is a branch of wood, a rock, a pothole, wires, ropes, and things
of that sort that may cause a serious accident.

I do feel much safer when using my cane in places that I don't visit that
much in my house. Otherwise, and when ignoring my cane from time to time, I
do face problems and hurt myself. That's a fact and not an exaggeration! It
happened to me yesterday in the basement.

Also, from time to time, the white cane does teach us new sounds of some new
objects, the floor/ground texture, exploring new things by touching them
using the cane, etc.

That's me and that's how I feel about the issue.

Thanks.

Ali

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of marianne denning
via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2022 2:38 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List' <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: marianne at denningweb.com
Subject: [Ohio-Talk] children using a cane

I am looking for opinions here. I am an advocate for a student in public
school. It sounds like his family lives in the country. The O&M instructor
told his mom that most blind people don't use their canes at home so he does
not use the cane when he goes different places on their property. I am
encouraging Mom to have him use the cane outside the house so he gains
confidence in his cane technique. He is 6 years old and still holds hands
with a family member when they are out in the community. He does carry his
cane but it is for identification. I have to admit I was never introduced to
the cane and learned to travel in my small community without a cane but that
should have never happened.

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