Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Using a cane (self.Blind)
submitted by Type_ya_name_here
Hey gang, quick post.
This post is mostly me thinking & writing out-loud. By no means is it a means to a pity party.
I've been noticing lately that I've been finding getting around the city, parks, work & other venues a little more challenging. As in I'll second guess where crubs start, where the last step is, walk into stuff on the ground (usually small stuff), night time I'm especially worse. So it looks like I may need to bite the bullet & acquire a white cane.
As I've been visually impaired my whole life I"ve always figured my life would come to this. I guess I just don't like to look 'different'.
It's difficult to specifiy what my vision is like. The best way I can explain is i'm sensetive to light & always have really dry eyes. I've got a few conditions working at the same time which make life challenging. So I hvae some sight - just pretty limited.
Are there many guys (or lovely ladies0 that are in a somwhat similar position - enough vision to get around without a cane - but use it nonetheless for safety and additional mobility ?
This post is mostly me thinking & writing out-loud. By no means is it a means to a pity party.
I've been noticing lately that I've been finding getting around the city, parks, work & other venues a little more challenging. As in I'll second guess where crubs start, where the last step is, walk into stuff on the ground (usually small stuff), night time I'm especially worse. So it looks like I may need to bite the bullet & acquire a white cane.
As I've been visually impaired my whole life I"ve always figured my life would come to this. I guess I just don't like to look 'different'.
It's difficult to specifiy what my vision is like. The best way I can explain is i'm sensetive to light & always have really dry eyes. I've got a few conditions working at the same time which make life challenging. So I hvae some sight - just pretty limited.
Are there many guys (or lovely ladies0 that are in a somwhat similar position - enough vision to get around without a cane - but use it nonetheless for safety and additional mobility ?
meeow_me 3 points 6y ago
I'm not blind but my boyfriend uses the NFB straight white fiberglass cane and I think it is a really nice looking cane. Just wanted to chime in with that since you're not thrilled about how it will make you stand out. I just think it looks much nicer than the ones with the red tip/ball. www.nfb.org
He also has some usable vision but a cane certainly makes him travel more confidently and it also let's sighted people know he is blind which can be safer in some situations.
He also has some usable vision but a cane certainly makes him travel more confidently and it also let's sighted people know he is blind which can be safer in some situations.
impablomations 3 points 6y ago
>Are there many guys (or lovely ladies0 that are in a somwhat similar position - enough vision to get around without a cane - but use it nonetheless for safety and additional mobility ?
I do.
I have Homonymous Hemianopsia (no left visual field after a stroke) and also Charles Bonnet syndrome.
I can see well enough to get around the house, cook, etc but use my cane when I'm outside so I don't walk into things on my blind side and also as a visual warning to others.
It's a big help when crossing roads as cars are more likely to let me cross without getting frustrated and leaning on their horn, when walking around buildings people will more often move around me rather than expect me to move out of their way if they aren't sure I have seen them.
At night or in low light I'm almost completely blind across my whole visual field due to the Charles Bonnet syndrome - imagine an LSD fueled kaleidoscope type effect overlaid on top of your vision that gets more prominent the darker it is.
> guess I just don't like to look 'different'.
While I've never had anyone say anything negative about my use of a cane, I don't care what others may or may not think I look like. I've had enough falls and scrapes from before I had my cane to be more concerned with being safe than others opinions.
It sounds like you might be best suited to a guide cane like myself rather than a long cane.
A guide cane you hold out in front of you diagonally across your body but you don't tap it on the ground or sweep side to side. When coming to a kerb I then let it touch the ground so I can judge the depth of the step.
You don't say what country you are based in but there is a link in the sidebar to a few Blind organisations in different countries and if you contact your local one they should be able to provide you with advice and some training in cane use if you need it. They can also help measure you for the right size cane.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/wiki/organizations
I do.
I have Homonymous Hemianopsia (no left visual field after a stroke) and also Charles Bonnet syndrome.
I can see well enough to get around the house, cook, etc but use my cane when I'm outside so I don't walk into things on my blind side and also as a visual warning to others.
It's a big help when crossing roads as cars are more likely to let me cross without getting frustrated and leaning on their horn, when walking around buildings people will more often move around me rather than expect me to move out of their way if they aren't sure I have seen them.
At night or in low light I'm almost completely blind across my whole visual field due to the Charles Bonnet syndrome - imagine an LSD fueled kaleidoscope type effect overlaid on top of your vision that gets more prominent the darker it is.
> guess I just don't like to look 'different'.
While I've never had anyone say anything negative about my use of a cane, I don't care what others may or may not think I look like. I've had enough falls and scrapes from before I had my cane to be more concerned with being safe than others opinions.
It sounds like you might be best suited to a guide cane like myself rather than a long cane.
A guide cane you hold out in front of you diagonally across your body but you don't tap it on the ground or sweep side to side. When coming to a kerb I then let it touch the ground so I can judge the depth of the step.
You don't say what country you are based in but there is a link in the sidebar to a few Blind organisations in different countries and if you contact your local one they should be able to provide you with advice and some training in cane use if you need it. They can also help measure you for the right size cane.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/wiki/organizations
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thank you for your in depth response. I really appreciate it.
Like yourself when I'm at home I can get around pretty well apart from not seeing smaller stuff laying on the ground (thanks to my 18 month old kid).
It's weird I'm pretty much mid 30s and still want to look 'cool' at the expense of being safe. I can change how I feel though.
Your night vision sounds pretty bad. For me at night I'm severely poor sighted, my ability to predict curb height, where the steps end and navigating out of a car park is getting quite stressful. I obviously don't want drivers to think I'm inconsiderate.
I'm in Australia.
Like yourself when I'm at home I can get around pretty well apart from not seeing smaller stuff laying on the ground (thanks to my 18 month old kid).
It's weird I'm pretty much mid 30s and still want to look 'cool' at the expense of being safe. I can change how I feel though.
Your night vision sounds pretty bad. For me at night I'm severely poor sighted, my ability to predict curb height, where the steps end and navigating out of a car park is getting quite stressful. I obviously don't want drivers to think I'm inconsiderate.
I'm in Australia.
impablomations 5 points 6y ago
You'll probably find that if you have a cane then drivers will be more considerate of you.
At the end of the day though, your safety is more important than someone waiting an extra 20 seconds.
I've been meaning to update the Wiki with a few more Blind organisations, heres a couple for you in Australia.
Royal Society for the Blind
http://www.rsb.org.au/
Vision Australia
https://www.visionaustralia.org/
>It's weird I'm pretty much mid 30s and still want to look 'cool' at the expense of being safe.
I thought the same when I first lost my sight a couple of years ago and a cane was recommended for me, then I thought
"What's more important - the opinion of people I don't know, will probably never know and if they thought less of someone because they had a cane, wouldn't want to know - or stop walking into stuff and tripping over kerbs?"
You can guess the answer :)
>Like yourself when I'm at home I can get around pretty well apart from not seeing smaller stuff laying on the ground (thanks to my 18 month old kid).
I have two cats that are constantly trying to assassinate me by leaving toys in the middle of the floor so I can sympathise. lol
If you're worried about how you look or what others may think, then I reckon one of your countrymen may have some advice on how to tackle it.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a6EOyaMdqY
For sight impaired readers who can't see the video, its a music video so seeing the video isn't important. It's just the guy on stage singing. Also NSFW lyrics so don't click if you're offended by Australian level cursing.
At the end of the day though, your safety is more important than someone waiting an extra 20 seconds.
I've been meaning to update the Wiki with a few more Blind organisations, heres a couple for you in Australia.
Royal Society for the Blind
http://www.rsb.org.au/
Vision Australia
https://www.visionaustralia.org/
>It's weird I'm pretty much mid 30s and still want to look 'cool' at the expense of being safe.
I thought the same when I first lost my sight a couple of years ago and a cane was recommended for me, then I thought
"What's more important - the opinion of people I don't know, will probably never know and if they thought less of someone because they had a cane, wouldn't want to know - or stop walking into stuff and tripping over kerbs?"
You can guess the answer :)
>Like yourself when I'm at home I can get around pretty well apart from not seeing smaller stuff laying on the ground (thanks to my 18 month old kid).
I have two cats that are constantly trying to assassinate me by leaving toys in the middle of the floor so I can sympathise. lol
If you're worried about how you look or what others may think, then I reckon one of your countrymen may have some advice on how to tackle it.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a6EOyaMdqY
For sight impaired readers who can't see the video, its a music video so seeing the video isn't important. It's just the guy on stage singing. Also NSFW lyrics so don't click if you're offended by Australian level cursing.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Once again thanks
You're helping me understand how much of a useful tool a cane can be.
While I would probably look like a goose getting up from a public library's computer (or Internet cafes PC) and walking away with the cane in hand - it's a) none of your business what I do, b) none of your business what I'm doing and c) done for a specific reason. So perhaps I should but up (as we say down under).
I totally don't want a guide dog ever because....well...I like to have as few commitments in my life and a dog is a big one. But that's a totally different issue.
You're helping me understand how much of a useful tool a cane can be.
While I would probably look like a goose getting up from a public library's computer (or Internet cafes PC) and walking away with the cane in hand - it's a) none of your business what I do, b) none of your business what I'm doing and c) done for a specific reason. So perhaps I should but up (as we say down under).
I totally don't want a guide dog ever because....well...I like to have as few commitments in my life and a dog is a big one. But that's a totally different issue.
ChokeDownDatPill 2 points 6y ago
> navigating out of a car park is getting quite stressful.
at least you can still drive!
at least you can still drive!
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Hey, Jesus gave me perfectly good arms and legs. His work on my eyes though is a bit shody and disappointing.
ChokeDownDatPill 3 points 6y ago
so you're that nasty bugger who parked by braille beside me at the K-mart
TurtleKnife 2 points 6y ago
Going through the same thing you are as learning to accept that it is in my best I trust io use a cane.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I'm starting to really do the math & look at it not so negativly.
If i'm out & about and I don't want to use it, then I'll just keep it in my back pack, it's there if I want it. Perhaps though when I know I'll be out on the street a fair bit, might as well use it to...you know, not go A over T and a) look like a real twat & b) not end my underwear modeling days.
Who am I kidding? my days of being an underware model are well & truely over.
If i'm out & about and I don't want to use it, then I'll just keep it in my back pack, it's there if I want it. Perhaps though when I know I'll be out on the street a fair bit, might as well use it to...you know, not go A over T and a) look like a real twat & b) not end my underwear modeling days.
Who am I kidding? my days of being an underware model are well & truely over.
FlashingRedBobOmb 1 points 6y ago
I found myself in the same boat a while back. I've been legally blind since birth and never used a cane when I was younger. I have a very narrow visual field with no peripheral vision, no depth perception (because no left eye) and very poor visual acuity in my right eye.
My vision's not really any worse now than it was when I was younger, but the older I get, the more falling down and running into things _hurts_, so I find myself less willing to risk my health and safety than I once was.
About 6mo ago I picked up a white cane (I did have some O&M training a few years back). I use it if I'm traveling alone in unfamiliar places or when I'm out at night.
The "looking different" part took a bit to get over and I was really self-conscious about it for a while, but it's saved me from injury a few times, so that soon goes away. It's a tool. That's all.
My vision's not really any worse now than it was when I was younger, but the older I get, the more falling down and running into things _hurts_, so I find myself less willing to risk my health and safety than I once was.
About 6mo ago I picked up a white cane (I did have some O&M training a few years back). I use it if I'm traveling alone in unfamiliar places or when I'm out at night.
The "looking different" part took a bit to get over and I was really self-conscious about it for a while, but it's saved me from injury a few times, so that soon goes away. It's a tool. That's all.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thanks for your response.
I'm sorry to hear about your challenges
I was talking with a dr who suggested that it'd be good for when you said - night time or when I'm in an unfamiliar setting.
I guess I just need to keep telling myself 'tops, not rules'.
I also suppose I should get used to the concept as my condition is always getting worse.
I'm sorry to hear about your challenges
I was talking with a dr who suggested that it'd be good for when you said - night time or when I'm in an unfamiliar setting.
I guess I just need to keep telling myself 'tops, not rules'.
I also suppose I should get used to the concept as my condition is always getting worse.
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