[blindkid] [Bulk] cane use and travel in familiar areas

[Brandy W]

Hi, This is stupid. He can use his cane in what ever hand is best for him, 
aned most blind adults don't trail. If he is getting around with out than 
let him be. He is doing fine with out the skill. If he were having trouble 
it may be one thing. The cane tip on the ground against the wall is as good 
as trailing. I'd love to talk with you more if you want spesific help in 
this matter. Bran

Brandy Wojcik
Discovery Toys Educational Leader
www.playtoachieve.com
(512) 231-8697
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Susan Harper" <sueharper at firstchurchgriswold.org>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Rev. Lou Harper" <revlou at firstchurchgriswold.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:57 PM
Subject: [Bulk] [blindkid] cane use and travel in familiar areas


> Hi All,
>
>     I know I am probably going to sound uneducated here, but I have a
> question for those whose children use canes and mental mapping, okay, two
> questions.  Here goes.
>
>     My son learned to use his cane in his right hand.  He has done a
> remarkable job of adapting to cane travel for a 3 year old.  He also does
> extremely well with echo location and mental mapping.  Now the O & M
> instructor (I might add that we got a new O & M instructor on the first 
> day
> of school.) wants him to switch cane hands.  He is right handed and the O 
> &
> M want him to use the cane in his left hand, so he can trail with his 
> right
> hand and then cane diagonally.  He is not really happy or cooperative with
> this change.  Is this something others have had experience with?  Is this
> something new?  Every picture I have seen of a child or an adult with a
> cane, it has been in their right hand.  I get the reason that he should be
> able to use both hands and walk on the right, but it seems a little bit 
> like
> trying to make a lefty learn right hand stuff, only in this case it is
> making a right handed person into a lefty.  I also understand that the can
> is an extension of your hand.
>
>     Second issue.  My son is learning trailing in the classroom.  However,
> he was headed straight for his cubby to get his coat and his aid 
> interrupted
> him to go back and trail.  I thought it was quite remarkable that he has a
> mental map and knows where his coat is.  I should say that I am an 
> advocate
> of discovery learning techniques.
>
>     Help, what am I missing?
>
> Blessings,
> Sue H.
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