Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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BBC article about blind girl having cane taken away because it's "too dangerous" (bbc.com)
submitted by saizai
Amonwilde 6 points 5y ago
I honestly think this is a violation of her civil rights. She needs that cane to be independent, and she needs to learn to use it. This is incredibly misguided.
homerq 5 points 5y ago
Not just civil rights, human rights.
Terry_Pie 5 points 5y ago
I've had staff at a pub, and airline staff, try to confiscate my cane (only an ID cane at that time). I just told them no and they backed off.
More recently, know someone who was attending a multiday event who was stopped by security two days in a row who asked what his cane was and why he needed it.
More recently, know someone who was attending a multiday event who was stopped by security two days in a row who asked what his cane was and why he needed it.
saizai [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Airline staff always try to stow my cane in the overhead. I say hell no and they don't push it.
I've once had airline staff move my cane from where I had put it on my seat temporarily (while I was dealing with my bags), too quiet for me to notice, so when I went to pick it up again it wasn't there. Grrrr.
I've once had airline staff move my cane from where I had put it on my seat temporarily (while I was dealing with my bags), too quiet for me to notice, so when I went to pick it up again it wasn't there. Grrrr.
gazpachocaliente 2 points 5y ago
That's really fucking irresponsible. Unfortunately some people just don't put themselves in other people's shoes!
lizzyb187 4 points 5y ago
BBC made a dick joke in that article about a disabled child.
"There are guide canes, symbol canes and long canes. And they have changeable tips at the end depending on the surfaces you regularly walk on. (Mushroom tip, anyone?)"
"There are guide canes, symbol canes and long canes. And they have changeable tips at the end depending on the surfaces you regularly walk on. (Mushroom tip, anyone?)"
Amonwilde 2 points 5y ago
This is, unfortunately, not a great article.
KillerLag 3 points 5y ago
Good lord, I hate it when that shit comes up. My clients occassionally worry because they are afraid they would hurt someone. I ask them to stand up, and I walk up from behind them, tapping against their leg as if someone had run into them. Invariably, they understand that it does *less* damage for a cane to tap into someone then a *person* running into them.
On a related note, me and my coworkers are actually having a discussion regarding whether we should issue a cane to a specific client. This client has a complicated history with violence at school, to the point that starting next September, he is being transferred to special school (not one for the blind, but for those with violence and self control issues... What is called Section 23 for the Toronto District School Board). He's already had instances where he caused grievous injury to kids half his age.
On a related note, me and my coworkers are actually having a discussion regarding whether we should issue a cane to a specific client. This client has a complicated history with violence at school, to the point that starting next September, he is being transferred to special school (not one for the blind, but for those with violence and self control issues... What is called Section 23 for the Toronto District School Board). He's already had instances where he caused grievous injury to kids half his age.
saizai [OP] 3 points 5y ago
I've once had someone (metro station staff who was guiding me, I was following by sound) tell me to not tap my cane in front of me because I might hit someone. I told him not to tell me how to use my cane, and he just walked away, leaving me stranded.
Re your client: that does seem a problematic case. Has he used weapons on others? Maybe you could prefer giving him a light cane, e.g. fiberglass, which if it hits is more likely to sting than bruise?
Re your client: that does seem a problematic case. Has he used weapons on others? Maybe you could prefer giving him a light cane, e.g. fiberglass, which if it hits is more likely to sting than bruise?
KillerLag 2 points 5y ago
Unknown regarding if he had used weapons. The school board doesn't have to give us that information, and my coworker is the one dealing with him (I don't believe he is getting regular O&M instruction, either). We have a meeting with the school board in a few weeks, so I'm sure his case would come up.
saizai [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Good luck. :/
It is a bit of an ... intrinsic part of life for a cane user that we routinely commit what would normally be assault, i.e. we hit other people with a stick. But it's kinda necessary to being able to walk around or know that they're there.
Now I'm curious whether this has ever been litigated, e.g. if someone was hurt by a guide cane and sued the cane user or if criminal assault/battery charges were filed. (For normal cane use, that is. If someone who happens to be blind deliberately uses their cane as a weapon, that's a totally different situation.)
It is a bit of an ... intrinsic part of life for a cane user that we routinely commit what would normally be assault, i.e. we hit other people with a stick. But it's kinda necessary to being able to walk around or know that they're there.
Now I'm curious whether this has ever been litigated, e.g. if someone was hurt by a guide cane and sued the cane user or if criminal assault/battery charges were filed. (For normal cane use, that is. If someone who happens to be blind deliberately uses their cane as a weapon, that's a totally different situation.)
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