May 8 - White Cane Mobility

I am aware of four kinds of white canes – an identity cane, a guide cane, a support cane, and a mobility cane. The descriptions are fairly self-explanatory. The identity cane is used so that other people can identify the user as someone who has low vision. It is thin and lightweight and can be folded up to fit into a purse or even a roomy pocket. The guide cane is relatively new on the market. It is similar to the ID cane but is a little longer and sturdier.

The support cane is used by people who would normally use a regular wooden cane. The difference is that it is white, indicating that the user does not have full sight.

Personally, I use a mobility cane. As its name suggests, the mobility cane assists me in moving about more easily. This cane helps me to identify hazards in my path – things like fire hydrants, bikes, or scooters and shopping carts left carelessly on sidewalks, and occasionally children or small animals who are below my line of vision. The cane also helps me detect dips in the sidewalk where driveways run out into the road. These can be quite jarring if you come across them not anticipating their presence.

I have three mobility canes of slightly different lengths but I like the longer one best.It is more useful for faster movement because it stretches out further in front of me and gives me more immediate warning of what is ahead of me. If you do need a cane, it is important to get one that is the proper length for you. A person can develop a permanent slouch if the cane is too short and you are constantly bending forward. I do have a shorter cane which I use when I travel through airport terminals. This cane is enough so that other people can recognize me as blind or visually impaired but not so long that it is an obstruction in a crowd. This cane is also short enough that I can fold it up and place it in the seat back while the plane is in the air. It is helpful to have the white cane identify me as someone who is sight challenged, especially when I am alone or in unfamiliar surroundings. I use my white cane so that hopefully other people will move out of my way or offer assistance if I am in need.

While a white cane is a useful tool, it isn’t magical. Handling a cane will not tell the user his or her location. Nor will it give the user directions of how to get from place to place. Fortunately in our modern age of technology, other tools have been invented to help with this. I really like my Trekker Breeze, a small device sold through Humanware. The Trekker will announce my location and I can also enter a route to a specific destination. The Trekker will announce directions as I walk following the route. I have some sight so am able to use residual vision in combination with the Trekker instructions but I am told by friends who are completely without sight that the Trekker is an absolute boon to their independent mobility.

Using a white cane takes a little getting used to. There are a lot of emotions associated with using a white cane for the first time as an adult. It is often difficult for someone who is newly experiencing vision loss to become accustomed to the use of the cane. I know that I certainly experienced physical and emotional stress when I first began using a white cane on a regular basis. I think that I have finally reached the stage where the cane has become more like an extension of my arm and that the advantages of its use outweigh any disadvantages.

I will write more about white cane mobility in another post, but right now I want to take the opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day weekend.