[Ohio-Talk] White Canes and their Use

[ali benmerzouga]

Colleen,

Thank you so much for your reply and the clarifications.

I agree with you, blind training the blind is the best when it is available.


Speaking of your mother not wanting you to use your cane, my father also did
not want me to wear my eyeglasses when I was in the elementary school/Third
grade. It is ok with him to wear them when in the classroom only. It was a
kind of shame and the surrounding community pressure/lack of education. If
by any chance he'll find me wearing them while in the house, he will yell
and scream at me and order me to remove them, to the best of my
recollections. Also, students in the school and friends in the development
called me "four eyes.", so because of my Dad, friends and people, I did not
wear my eyeglasses properly until I started college.

Have a wonderful day.

Ali


-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Colleen Roth via
Ohio-Talk
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2022 6:29 PM
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Colleen Roth <n8tnv52 at outlook.com>
Subject: [Ohio-Talk] White Canes and their Use

Hi Ali,
I was told that Staff were afraid students would accidentally hit each other
when using their canes. Staff also said they could not teach younger
children because they didn't have the Staff and it was inappropriate for
young children to use a cane.
I could not figure out how to use Echolocation. I was too busy trying to
figure out where I was and where I needed to turn. I was always very
frightened when I walked alone at OSSB. I really wanted my cane.
I did ask about this when I started at Ossb.
My mother was happy because she did not like my cane.
When I started at St. Ursula I used my cane.
She arranged it with the person she worked with that she gave a ride to work
to that she would walk me into the Building.
I went in the back door which was a little more private. It was also very
near our lockers.
I was probably the worst student any Mobility Teacher ever had. My teacher
at the Toledo Society for the Blind did not spend all her time worrying
about Technique. She encouraged me and I actually was allowed to travel
routes outside. Me Rehabilitation Counselor was blind; he was a
Federationist and introduced me to the NFB when I was 16.
He took me around BGSU since he graduated from there. He never put me down
or yelled at me.
I shut down when men yell at me.
The Discovery Method might work for some people but with my Anxiety Disorder
I would have been kicked out the first day when I had a panic attack.
That is how I react when learning Technology.
Since my Polaris is fast becoming obsolete I am learning to use the PC with
Jaws with a Focus 40.
I also have an Orbit to use with my cell phone when I get it later this
summer. I can also use it to take notes.
When people teach others they should not yell, scream, or put others down. I
really like to learn from a Totally blind person because they do not depend
on their vision to the point that they cannot think of how to teach a
totally blind person.
I have a very good teacher right now. Eric Duffy is a good teacher. He has
never yelled at me or made disparaging comments.
Enjoy National Convention. I hope to go in 2023.
Colleen Roth


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