[Mn-abs] Freedom for the Blind

[Kelby Carlson]

I was wondering if anyone else on this list has read Freedom for 
the Blind by James Omvig.  I am reading it now, and find much of 
what it says very good; he articulates many things I have 
believed my entire life and values my parents raised me with.

I'm almost to the section on the long white cane, and I have 
wondered about this for some time.  I understand the emotional 
power of using a long cane and the statement it makes, but it 
seems less than necessary from a pragmatic standpoint.  I prefer 
to have a cane that is able to fold not because I want to hide my 
blindness, but simply for convenience.  I'm rather tall, so 
having a long cane that can't fold would make it very difficult 
to travel in cars, at least I'm assuming so.  (I can't imagine 
the fits airlines could have over this.) Does anyone have 
experience with this? I'm trying to explore options right now.  I 
want to get more involved with the larger blind community and I'm 
fast approaching college.  Any discussion on this would be 
awesome.