Category: Let's talk
Simple: How comfortable are you walking with a cane -- not a guide-dog, in public? Especially If you're younger, how intimidated do you get when walking in public with a cane? Or, do you prefer to go on someone's elbow as much as possible? No matter how cool we feel about our disability, angziety will always creep up at somepoint, garenteed.
I feel equally comfortable walking with a cane as on the arm of a guide. I'm a bit nervous being the guide, but am willing to do it.
-Dave
I used to hate having my cane out in public, but now I can't see myself without it.
Anyone who gets intimidated by a stick-shaped object has got something wrong with them! What's it going to do? it's going to eat your ears so you can't ea hear traffic? Surely going on someones elbow would be worse, they may walk across a road and you may fall off the elbow. Imagine that! you'd be dead if a car didn't see you there on the ground having fell off the elbow. As for guide dogs, well they can be dangerous if they missbehave. They may pull you in front of a lorry and you may be ran over. Canes aren't intimidating except if someone uses it as a weapon! (and I should know).
I don't mind having my cane with me at all. I don't know if I felt embarrassed or anything when I was younger, as I've always had trouble seeing but now I just can't see period. I'm so used to it now that I'll take it almost every time I go somewhere, even if I know I'm going to be walking with someone. And I feel equally comfortable walking with someone because sometimes that's necessary. As for a guide dog, although I was considering getting one sometime, for now I wouldn't feel confident, not using my cane and trying to remember places around the neighborhood or city to go. I'm so used to finding things with my cane and being able to touch a landmark with my cane, hands and/or feet, depending what it is.
Leilani
What types of different cane styles do you all use? I've heard of "wheels" that can roll across the ground, but I use the little marshmellow-Roller which you can sweep across the ground. I hate the tap-tap-tap way.
Brice
Great topic. I just finished doing a blind fold clinic, we who still have a little bit of vision left wore heavy duty blindfolds and did all kinds of things. This went on for a week. I have used a folding cane for about 3 years now. We had to use a straight cane at this clinic. I was kind of hesitant about it, but soon found it quite easy. I can see the point of both styles and having different types of tips. I used to be really freaked out about using a cane and now I just won't go anywhere without it. Often, I have my cane in one hand and am holding the elbos of a friend, just to get through a crowded place faster. I even decorate my cane to match my outfits for a special occasion.
Carla
I think you'll find that many people who were previously sighties will say they had issues with using a cane in public. It's an acceptance thing. At least when you're sighted guide, it's not as obvious that you're blind, so making that obvious by using a cane can be intimidating to many.
I am not bothered in the slightest its merely a bit of plastic .I have even been known to wave it around, like a Gothic majorette, though I'm nowhere near as good. smile.
When I was younger it was extremely embarrassing, however, now that I'm older I don't find it so at all. I can use it or not, same goes with guides and guide dogs. I've got one, though I've recently retired her, and there has only been once or twice she has put me in a dangerous posission, and that is when you use your brains to get out of it and figure things out.
I hated walking with a cane when I was younger!!! But then, I hated walking with a sighted guide as well. hehehehe So mostly, I walked by myself along side my friends. I didn't do too badly either!!! My aide in school always used to yell at me about not having my cane with me and that used to piss the hell out of me!!! I didn't understand why, if I was doing ok on my own, was I supposed to have this dumb stick with me!!! But now, I walk with my cane more and wish that I could have the nerve to walk without it again as I did when I was younger. hehehehe *sexy*
I have both, but prefer using my folding cane. Once destinated, I just break it down and stash it out of the way. The roling tips are a great usability improvement over the static ones, especially when walking on brick or cobble-stone pavement; they don't get stuck in the cracks. When I was taking O&M, the "tap-tap-tap" method was the politically-correct cane technique.
If the landmark is a "Who", touching him with a cane is a bit impersonal, don't you think!
LOL,
Dave
I would probably never use a straight cane; too long and ttakes up more space than needed.
I also hate the tapping; the rolling is a much better way of finding information.
Each to their own, though.
Brice
My preference is for a folding cane, but I like it on the long side; I walk fast and need "braking room".
-Dave
I've never had a problem with canes, though I've now upgraded to the furry model with no regrets. It's a slightly odd question though, if you don't use a cane in public then where would you use it? And for those who don't like the look of them, do you think stumbling around in a disoriented manner looks less conspicuous? Sighted guide is the easy answer I s'pose, but how irritating to never go anywhere alone just for the look of the thing. This just puzzles me a bit.
i remember forgetting my symbol cane when I was young and my family and I went out for the day. now though, I have got used to using a long cane, and prefer the sleeker, lighter folding models of cane, although I still will go for a sterdy cane in most instances. I like the roller tip for two reasons, one it gives more info, and two, although the outlay is steeper per tip, the use you get out of one tip really outweighs the price. many of my tips outlive the cane.
I've been trained to use a cane since I was seven. Being that I'm 21 now, almost 22, I'm very comfortable using my cane everywhere, unless it's like home or work or some obviously familiar small environment, then I feel comfortable using my limited vision and walking around unaided. If I am on some kind of uneven natural area like dirt or grass, I will take someone's hand in case I slip or my cane detects loose ground that could cause me to fall.
I will use my cane, but I enjoy walking with my friends sighted guide as well. The cane not necessarely makes me nervous, but other people nervous when I'm using it, and in new places, I like to go sighted guide until I get use to that place.