October 14 - My White Cane Is Green!

Some of you might remember when I wrote about differently coloured white canes. Well, I guess that they wouldn’t be white if they were pink or blue or green. Anyway, I decided to take the plunge and ordered a green cane. I was surprised at how I felt about it once it arrived on my doorstep.

The first few times I went to pick it up and venture outside, I was quite hesitant. If people saw me with a green cane, would they really know that I was using it as a symbol of my partial sight? Certainly, it would still work as a mobility tool. It was the same as my regular white cane in every respect except for the colour. In the end, I chose to use the familiar white cane when I was out and about by myself. I decided that I wanted people to recognize the symbol. This was especially true in instances when I needed to cross a busy street. I felt safer when my white cane was out in front of me.

So, my green cane doesn’t hold quite the same appeal as my regular white cane. I have used the coloured cane but only infrequently. It is a good tool when I am walking beside someone else. When I walk with someone, they act as a partial guide and I don’t feel the need to make myself known as someone who is visually impaired. I have found the whole concept of white versus coloured canes to be a subject of internal debate but I would be interested to know what others think.