[nfb-talk] new NFB canes

Fri Aug 19 18:57:06 UTC 2011

Some states (Oregon included) say that a GREEN tip to a cane 
indicates deafness.  Every deaf-blind person I've ever known has used 
a plain white or red tipped cane like anybody else.

In Europe, a plain white cane is the standard for the blind, and the 
deaf-blind have a red spiral on their cane.  It's not commonly done 
there either.

Basically, this notion of special canes for the deaf-blind just does 
not seem to pan out.

Joseph - KF7QZC

On Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 10:04:48AM -0400, David Evans wrote:
>
>Dear All,
>
>A crook on the end of the cane was to provide a better grip for 
>support purposes in supporting ones self in balance and walking.  The 
>crook being on the end of the cane has nothing to do with a person 
>being Blind and does add, slightly to the weight of the cane.
>Originally, the crook handled canes were made by the same people who 
>make support canes for those people who have difficulty with balance 
>and walking.
>As the canes were improved over the years, the crook, on canes met 
>for the Blind, went away because they were not really needed by those 
>who are just Blind.
>Now there are still canes made for those who are blind and need help 
>for support and balance, but most have a 90 degree handle on them, 
>but are painted white and may even have a red tip.
>The red tip is actually  there to denote that the person is Deaf as 
>well as Blind and is supposed to denote danger.
>This goes back to the American introduction of the White Cane into 
>use by the Lion's Clubs in the 1920's after Helen Keller asked them 
>to be the "knights of the Blind."
>This red tip thing has gotten itself established in the wording of 
>the Law so that in some states, the Red tipped canes carried by the 
>Blind are identified as the cane of use by the Blind.  The Red tip 
>was to warn other people to be careful in approaching anyone bearing 
>a white cane with a Red tip because they were Blind and might be deaf 
>as well.
>Anyway, the crooks are gone and the technology has moved on.
>
>I, myself, have used the folding canes, but have switched to the 
>telescoping cane some time ago.
>After I learned a few things about the telescoping canes and how best 
>to handle them.   They work fine for me and even though I use a guide 
>dog now, I still carry my telescoping cane, with a "D" ring on the 
>handle, everywhere I go.  It just hangs at my side, ready for use 
>when I need it.
>I do not take my guide Dog Jack everywhere I go, such as the restroom 
>at work.
>I just do not want him laying on the dirty nasty floor.
>The telescoping canes work very well as long as you learn to give 
>them a good tug when extending them.
>I also cup my hand over the end cap, when hammering them down to 
>collapse them.
>I like them as I can open them, with  a flick of the wrist and even 
>close them using only one hand, which is great when I am carrying 
>something in the other hand.
>The addition of the "D" ring, tied up close to the handle, lets me 
>quickly and with one hand, hang my cane on a belt loop and free up my 
>hands.
>It also helps to prevent me from walking off without my cane as where 
>my belt loops go, so does my cane.
>For the ladies, it can also be clipped around a purse strap and 
>therefore, not forgotten as no lady goes anywhere without her purse.
>I have never lost a cane and always have one with in my reach.
>
>David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>----- Original Message ----- From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 9:12 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new NFB canes
>
>
>>that's what I thought. interesting pun.
>>Chuck
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Loren Wakefield" 
>><isaiah5719 at mchsi.com>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 8:26 AM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new NFB canes
>>
>>
>>>Sorry, but to my knowledge nfb canes have never had crooks, but 
>>>crooks have used them.
>>>
>>>
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Cindy Handel" 
>>><cindy425 at verizon.net>
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 9:35 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new NFB canes
>>>
>>>
>>>>You can hang an NFB cane on a hook with the loop on the top.
>>>>
>>>>Cindy
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
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