[blindkid] cane use and travel in familiar areas

[David Andrews]

You aren't missing anything.  Most of us have a preferred cane hand, 
usually right, and you should be able to use either, in case you are 
carrying something etc.  Trailing is one technique, but I would think 
caneing would take precedence over it.

Dave

At 01:57 PM 10/15/2009, you wrote:
>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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