The White Cane: What Is It and Do You Need One? | Life After Sight Loss
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- One of the most identifiable things about blind people is the infamous white cane. You see people having them all over the place. But, after losing your sight, you might be asking what they are and if you need one. Today, I'll discuss the following:
-The make up of the white cane
-What it is good for
-The reasons why you might want to have one around
Make sure to share your thoughts about having and using a white cane in the comments below!
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Four of our six kids are white cane travelers. They absolutely need it as they are completely blind. Thanks for the video!
Loved your thoughts! My husband has been working mobility training with the white cane for about a year and a half but like you, does not always need it to get around familiar places or when he is accompanied. HOWEVER, he finds the smaller, light version, the Identity Cane, very helpful! Like you, he does not appear any different than normally sighted person. Until he carried the identity cane, people assumed this able bodied guy would get out of their way and they ran into him with shopping carts, maid with service carts, with food service carts, bumped him off sidewalks resulting in falls, honked at him because he did not respond to their frantic hand signals from their car seat to "go ahead and cross the street", dashed through the door he was opening for himself causing him to get bumped into and stumble, when he asked store clerks for help finding something due to his vison issues they would say..."No problem, just go to aisle 12" instead of leading him there, or the medical receptionist would give a deep sigh of disappointment when he said he would need help filling out a long questionnaire on the clipboard they had just handed him, and on and on. With the Identity cane however, he is almost as cool to assist and treat decently as someone with a service dog! It also works as a regular cane when suddenly in a difficult spot, like a dark, winding stairwell or terrain that is difficult to manage due to poor lighting or lack of contrast. It is lighter, shorter, and easy to have along folded in a holster just in case. By the way, my husband feels that by using the long white cane when he can see well enough, he is taking something away from people who are completely blind. Takes time to get over that and the sense that people are staring at you.
I am Blind, and I use a Long White Cane. It is a symbol of Independence, and confidence. I am not ashamed to use it, as it is an extension of me. The White Cane does not define who I am as an Individual, because Blindness is only one Characteristic among Many.
If people do not like the fact that I use the Long White Cane, then, they don't need to be around me.
NO OFFENCE INTENDED!
I use a white and it's helped me tremendously independent and like you said makes ppl aware that you might need some help. It's also very helpful when u bump into someone accidentally and THEY apologise ☺ At first I was very embarrassed to use mine but support from local organisations and my mobility officer solved that! Now even the taxi drivers remind me to grab it when they come to pick me up.
I get pretty annoyed using my cane at times. For some reason, in my neighborhood, I keep encountering people who either don’t have a clue what my white cane means or just plain don’t seem to care. When I’m crossing intersections, drivers will speed up to make turns so they don’t have to wait for me to cross. It’s also gotten worse in the COVID era where markings directing the flow of people vary from place to place. I’ve gotten lectured more than once, cane in hand, because I’m not following signage and floor markings properly. As much as I hate my cane, I’ve made my peace with it… for the most part. I have no depth perception so it’s really hard stepping down off curbs without it.
LOL I love visual disturbance. I'm going to use that if you don't mind. 30 years ago when I lost my vision completely and I was introduced to an orientation mobility instructor… Well I freaked out. I was 13 years old and wanted nothing to do with it. Still… 30 years later I have issues with it. I do like having it at times but for traveling alone all I can think about is how people are looking at me. One day I walked to the park with my kids. Yes they were my visual guides but I took the cane so that people would know that I was blind when we were crossing the street etc. My kids actually saw a family staring at us through their kitchen window. My son wanted to know what their problem was LOL. just a hint, it comes in real handy when you go to concerts or state fairs etc. I've taken it to concerts and people definitely get out of my way which is a plus LOL. The second mobility instructor I had still makes me cringe when I think about her. We did not get along at all. Actually I think, Or I know rather, having her as an instructor scarred me. then, the third one I had when I was in college was a wonderful wonderful instructor and I am forever grateful to her. Someday I would love to have a guide dog. Anyway I love your channel. Such a great place to come for advice.
This is an awesome and informational video!
I resisted using a cane until I was walking bent over and scrubbing my shoes across shadows because I was afraid of falling into holes. Now I don’t feel self conscious and my back feels better. Cane = freedom
Hah! Made me lol- I've done the shadow scrub too! I ordered a cane and it just arrived today :)
I've been legally blind my whole life and recently started using a white cane at 38. Falling down and walking into stuff just hurts a lot more now and injuries take longer to recover from than than did when I was young! Like you, most of the time I don't need it for mobility and I rarely use it when I'm out with someone, but when I'm alone it's handy for both ID and mobility, and it helps a lot in the dark. Even though I don't use it all the time (or even most of the time, really) it's nice to have, but I'm still kind of working on getting past the feeling of being so self-conscious with it. I've had some O&M training, but I really wish I'd learned to use a cane when I was a kid. I'd have more skill and more confidence.
I mirror this comment completely. When I use my cane my confidence rises but My pride suffers, but the more I use it the less it bothers me and the more confident I become.
Thanks so much. I just got my white cane waiting on the O&M trainer.
My 1st time using a white cane someone yelled “you blind bitch” People can be so cruel, hope they never lose their vision it willl come back to them.
I just started caring one when I travel to let folks know to give me a wide berth.. I have found it's hard to manage my carry on, the cane and if. pick up a drink. thanks
… Yes are use a white cane with a roller ball tip. You asked me about other uses for a white cane and my brother Who is also blind used his as a weapon in a supermarket… Apparently someone behind him at the till was saying he was being too slow… And he folded his cane up and whacked them on their arm! And no he wasn’t arrested…
I have glaucoma in both eyes. Using my cane helps me to navigate uneven pavements, kerbs and steps.
got one at the va use it when i go out .
I'm considering using one but I am afraid of the stares and the social stigma that comes with having that came. I'm still coming to terms with my blindness.
I’m also trying but when family says negative things it makes it worse
I remember when I started using the white cane, I was so concerned about people staring at me, then one day I realised that I can't even really see the people staring at me due to my "visual disturbance". In some ways I'm happy about that is it has made me more confident and less concerned with how others see me when walking out in public.
Haha! The same thing happens to me as I lice in crowded London. At first I was mortified, but now find it a little amusing when they apologise to me after I've hit them with my long cane.
I was recently diagnosed as visually impaired. Currently I travel alone and sometime feel uncomfortable. Please advise if training is required to use a cane.
from one user to another who cares what the people think it helps me not them.
I recently lost vision in one eye as well, got the cane but wasn't sure if I should use it. My family and friends think is weird. I look fine but I'm not fine...
hey there I'm my name is Sam that is the big question that is plaguing my mind right now should I use a white cane or should I not use a white cane? here's my situation I'm completely blind in one eye my left eye has Best correctable vision of 2070 however more than half of the peripheral vision in my left eye is gone due to glaucoma I also have nystagmus which sometimes affects my depth perception I can actually still see where I'm going a primary reason why would like to use a white cane is because whenever I'm in crowded areas such as malls airports or anything like that I have a tendency of bumping into people way too much especially if they're walking perpendicular into my path where they think I'm going to see them out of the corner of my eye and I don't on my right side that I is totally blind so if anybody standing on my right side or veers onto my right side of my path I'm not going to see them I'm going to bump them over I have figured carrying a white cane would make others aware that I don't see too well I can see just not very well but I'm wondering if the white cane is practical or is this considered misuse of the white cane since I still have substantial eyesight perhaps you can help me decide. the type of cane I'm looking to use is at least an identification cane or commonly known as symbol or ID cane not really full Mobility cuz I can pretty much still see where I'm going the IDK would probably just help me with steps curbs and awareness to other people so that they don't walk so close on to my path.
Derek Daniel hey thanks a lot I appreciate your input. yeah no I'm definitely not looking for pity or sympathy I don't want to be treated any different but I just want others to be aware that I have a decent amount of vision I can see just not well so that if I bumped into somebody they would realize that I was not doing it on purpose in my situation they quite came before awareness to others. more than likely I probably will use it I've been thinking about it for quite some time now. it would also be helpful to me in airports while traveling me and the fact that I'm unable to read those tiny little numbers it would be difficult for me to find my seat on the airplane with so much Terror isn't going on I would not want to look suspicious on an aircraft and all I'm trying to do is find my seat.
Hey Derek. Great video. I'm blind in my right eye (my bad eye) and will eventually be blind in my left due to my Cataracts, and unfortunately have no health insurance or money to fix it. I recently got a cane from the NFB and have been blindfolding myself and practicing using it. Unfortunately, I seem to be having a problem walking straight. I'm fine just walking around the house, but if I take it outside and try walking around the neighborhood, it doesn't work and I keep tripping over curbs or walking off the sidewalk without even knowing it unless there was a curb there and suddenly go down. Because of that, I'm still too scared to try and cross the street. Is there any way to fix this? Oh, I guess I should also point out that I'm teaching myself, as I don't have any means of transportation on my own except my feet and no money to get training. I do tend to learn better if I teach myself things anyway, but I have a feeling learning how to walk straight is something I may not be able to learn on my own. If I can just master that, I'd be alright, as I seem to be getting with it pretty good. I started a Vlog channel detailing what it's like as I go blind, and have 2 videos showing my cane travels so far.
if you are a vet. they will help you. if not go to the lighthouse for the blind
I am visually impaired however I do still have some usable eyesight I can read normal print as long as it's take that back I can not read normal print and has to be large one problem I have is did perception issues steps and curves are a problem I think white cane would help with that but since I have some usable eyesight I think people would look at me weird they see the case they would have seemed that I'm totally blind but then they see me using my phone or using a monocular to read a street sign it would probably think what's that guy doing with a cane? it's kind of why I'm reluctant to carry one but it would let people know that I have a visual impairment especially in crowded situations where I don't see people out of the corner of my eye because of restricted peripheral vision I bump into people way too much.
Oh, you’d be surprised how many people are clueless about the cane. There’s been times I’ve asked people to help me find something and they literally point and say “it’s over there”. Half the time I want to smack the on the head with the cane and say “where is over there”.
Yeah derek you would think that people knowing the meaning of the white cane. My ex-boyfriend used finally after hard acceptence his white cane butt there wasnt a car who stopped when he wanted to cross the street. It was really frustrated. If he just crossed the street he had been under a car
I have 0 zero depth perception and I'm afraid of falling so what do you think?
I have a cane
It's very hard to use it for me
oh I forgot to mention I am blind in my right eye completely I have nystagmus in both eyes unrestricted peripheral vision.
I'm only partly blind but at high risk to lose more vision should I start using one
That's totally up to you at this point, but I don't think it would hurt to learn those skills to have them ready though. Best of luck!
Please guide me
I was screaming at my phone when you touched the tip of your came
Mic k haha don’t worry I washed my hands afterwards 😄
I had to stop using mine because the attention gives me severe anxiety. I do not like attention. I'm not concerned with what people think of me. I am just used to being under the radar. I am legally blind, but right on the edge. I have enough vision to get away with not using it. I however don't mind carrying one around in my cane holster just in case.
Star's Adventures I have visually impaired totally blind in my right eye and I have restricted peripheral vision along with nystagmus which makes it difficult for me to see things however I do have usable eyesight to not really be a white cane but I do have problems when it comes to steps and curbs specifically going down in some situations I don't know where the steps starts or ends and I have stumbled quite a few times I thought about getting a white cane for that purpose only but I wouldn't really need to use it all the time however I sometimes also worried about that negativity I would get from people even being accused of Faking a visual impairment which I don't know who would even want to do that. I've had Mobility training in the fifth grade so I was taught how to use a white cane but never did use one I do always wanted to be under the radar when I was younger until I saw UA-cam and other legally blind people telling their stories it inspired me to open up and tell mine now I'm not so much under the radar I was even reluctant to use a binocular to help me see things now I use one.
I’m just disturbed period.
I realized it was needed when I was walking, found the ramp but did not see that some idiot placed steps on the end of the ramp, fell on my face on concrete. Who designed that stupid ramp?
you know there are laws it is called the white cane laws
I have been using the white cane.I am blind both eye's are effected by galcoumao. We need encourage but not sympathy.
Really think you missed the mark on your perspective with the white cane. It is a much more powerful tool for independence than you give it credit for.
Hi Janice! Thanks so much for your comment. To be honest, this is one of my earlier videos and I was still trying to figure things out. I agree with you that the white cane is a great tool for mobility. I am a guide dog user myself, but totally see the benefits a white cane can provide. Thanks for sharing your thoughts . I hope you have a great day!