Travel from Home and Beyond
What to Expect...
Travel may mean going across the country or it can be going to an appointment in town and it starts from home. Join us as we talk not only about destinations but ways to get there, be safe, and have fun. Join Marja, Tina, and Todd as we talk about vacations, planning, technology tools, mobility, packing…all the details of going places.
This free zoom workshop and third Tuesdays at 10am - 11am PST every month! Sign up by calling the office to get the link today! Click the button below or call 503.668.6195
Tuesday April 15, 2025
Today we will talk about:
Facts about the white cane
Benefits of using a white cane
The power the white cane can bring to others
White canes offer a wide range of benefits for blind and visually impaired people, both practical and social. Here’s a breakdown of the main ones:
✅ Mobility & Navigation
•Obstacle detection: White canes help users detect obstacles (like curbs, steps, or cracks) and navigate safely.
•Surface changes: They can feel textures or changes in terrain (e.g., grass to sidewalk).
•Spatial awareness: By tapping or sweeping the cane, users get a sense of the environment’s layout and size.
•Autonomous travel: With training, users can travel independently without relying on others or needing constant assistance.
•Confidence: The cane can give a strong sense of control and freedom, especially in unfamiliar areas.
Identification
•Signals visual impairment: The white color (often with red at the bottom) universally signals that the user is blind or visually impaired.
•Improves public interaction: Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are more likely to be cautious and helpful when they see someone using a white cane.
🛠️ Tool for Orientation
•Landmark detection: It helps locate known landmarks like doorways, intersections, or tactile paving.
•Direction feedback: It can help correct veering by aligning with straight paths like sidewalk edges.
🧠 Sensory input
•It works as an extension of the user’s body, providing real-time tactile feedback to replace or support vision.
Types of canes:
A.Identity cane (thin, light weight, not used for probing)
B.Guide cane (used again for identity, but not as sturdy as a C.
C.probing) long white, folding, etc.)
D.Specialty: AI driven like the We Walk, Glyde, no jab, light up cane, stability canes, etc.
Types of materials: Aluminum, graphite, fiberglass, etc.
Types: Variety: telescopic, all terrain, pencil, folding, rigid, colored, different handle grips, cork, golf grip, most have cord at end to hang or wrap cane
Cane tips: pencil, Dakota, medal, marshmallow, 360, roller, crook, etc.
Video: https://youtu.be/nbrrdNqWmUk?si=eTaiL09IguxeTiZR
Cane length: Sternum to nose, the faster you walk, the longer it should be
Sam from the blind life: https://youtu.be/XGv46g_P5IM?si=TqCVbK5YbxPuEKff
History and Facts about the white cane:
The cane is a Symbol of blind citizens
Symbol of independence
1920’s between the Lions others, it became a starting point for mobility.
October 15 of each year is recognized as white cane awareness, started 1964
History: The History of the White Cane
Book:
The Care and feeding of the long white cane:
Author: Bickford, Thomas
DB 37053
You can also find this on the NFB web site: www.nfb.org
Taboo for canes:
• Putting your cane on a table (where has that cane tip been?)
• Hold the cane up in the air
• Use it as a weapon
• As something to lean on
• To prop doors open
• Probing in unsafe areas like a fire whole, depth of a pool, etc.
*More notes from class:
Urban Explorer and All Terrain canes, https://awarewolfgear.com/ux
Here is a video from Sam “The Blind Life” on Awarewolf Gear. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=warewolf+cane+all+terrain&mid=F494C00A06E1173214D4F494C00A06E1173214D4&FORM=VIRE
We discussed using trekking poles for added stability. There are many different brands available on Amazon, most are collapsible, from around $25-$65. Sporting goods stores or departments should also carry them.
Todd discussed using a rigid cane for roller blading with a sighted friend helping, with guidance and distance. I think a trekking pole would work much the same. Doing research, the only commercially produced device I found was a runner’s tether on Amazon. It is a soft, fairly short tether with loops on each end to go around the wrists of the two runners, it’s $8.99. It did not look suitable for actives like hiking or roller blading.
Getting your cane wet: repeatedly submerging your cane in water is hard on your cane and could interfere with the audio information you get from your cane. A question came up about needing to take a cane to go in the surf at the beach or wading in a creek or lake, where you need to hang on to your cane or risk not being able to find it. It would make the most sense to use a rigid cane that isn’t going to trap water. You can contact the NFB to get a rigid cane at no cost.