[stylist] Things to ponder- white cane

Sat Dec 22 03:56:05 UTC 2012

Well,
I've had people push me but I won't let them grab my cane unless we're on 
uneven terrain or grass.
I need the cane to slide along and guide me or I hold it vertically and go 
sighted guide.
But no, I feel very awkward about letting someone grab my cane like a leash; 
so usually stop that from happening.
Robert, yes I've had people grab other body parts and find it rude.
Uh, you sure were starting a good anecdote below.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Robert Leslie Newman
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 5:35 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Things to ponder- white cane

Bridgit and Danielle --- Heck yes! As in from time to time we sure can and
need to discuss blindness issues, or plain old NFB business.

I call that "being pulled by the tip of my cane" as the little red wagon
guiding technique. (You know, being pulled along, just like a little red
wagon.)

Then there is the "wheel barrel" technique --- where the blind guy is
approached from behind, grabbed by elbows and pushed infront of the person
doing the guiding. (Bet most of you  have had that happen, too!)

Then there is the firemen's carry technique. (yes, I know of two people who
have had this one happened to them.) Being picked up and slung over the
shoulder and carried across the street.

Then there are a whole bunch of variations of what is called the "Clamp-on."
As in someone clamps their grip on --- say your wrist of your cane arm, and
with that steel grip emoblizing your use of that arm, they pull and guide
you to wherever. (Or you teach them sighted guide, where you take them by
their elblw, and they --- clamp your hand aginst their side. And so this
tale can go on and on to other body parts.)

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 4:00 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] Things to ponder- white cane

Danielle,

I use a long white cane and posed the question more for thought than
actually needing an answer. True, it doesn't catch things above your head,
but if arcing properly, it should cover each side of your body.
The cane should hit or graze objects notifying that they are there. Of
course, just like anyone, sighted or blind, accidents happen, and I'm sure
those of us who are cane users have had those times when we are not cane
quite properly and something minor happens, but the cane actually is
effective in traveling despite what some may think.

I have had people want to lead me around by pulling my cane behind them, and
often they are foreign, so I assume this is something done in other
countries as pointed out in this original post. If a more international
effort were made to bring awareness of true independence for those with
disabilities, perhaps things like this would lessen. No one does this
maliciously, but it stems from the perception that the blind are in more
trouble than others. We all have various travel levels, but ultimately, the
cane is safe and effective for negotiating the world without help.
I'm not saying we don't need help at times or that accepting it is wrong, I
just think we can do more without assistance than many realize.
I merely base all this off my personal experience but understand we all have
our own unique, individual experiences.

If a person is in real danger or may require extra help, there's nothing
wrong with this, but a cane should find objects like a thorn bush and assist
one in avoiding it.

Anyway, I know we've had this discussion many times on Stylist, and perhaps
it's not the "proper" place to have this discussion, though an NFB listserve
should be able to discuss any blind-related issues... But anyway, I digress,
and I have no intention of starting anything here- good or bad, grin.

Happy holidays.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy,
we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world."
C. S. Lewis

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:03:36 -0600
From: Danielle Antoine <singingmywayin at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] More things to ponder
Message-ID:

<CAMxXqERBu_ddZdWvYH7O9Z3mHcP4WyFH5OemeN4Dji8K4Mzu7Q at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Bridget,
Yes it does. It does not cover overhanging  objects, though. HTH and Merry
christmas all. Danielle

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