Ambutech has the option to pick a colorful grip and tip combo (orange green blue or pink) while keeping the cane segments either white or white and red at the bottom like usual. This may or may not make it less identifiable as a white cane to other people in your experience.

They also have the ability to select one of those colors just for the tip, while using the regular black (or cork or wood) handle.

You can also put something on the hanging loop of your cane, a small pendant or something. I suggest keeping it very small, as a heavy keychain will bounce around in my experience.

Your instructor's advice is correct, you generally want to avoid any changes (like taping up the shaft different colors) that would make it less visible or less plainly recognizeable as a white cane.

You don't have to use red for the bottom bit. In the US it only needs to be mostly white.

I've seen one or two people who ordered their canes with purple instead of red.
I wouldn't do any more customization than that though.

People recognize the cane for what it is by what they see, or how they see it. So your teacher is right in that way. It is not really suppose to look unique. It’s more of a symbol and a tool. Anyone can buy a fancy stick and call it a cane. No one looks at a cane for it’s beauty, but people look at it for identifying it as a. White cane and you as a blind person. I know people hang some decorations on the end of their canes on the loop but usually not a good idea otherwise.

Hi. In the past, I have tied ribbons and attached keychains to the strap of my cane. This allowed me to personalize my cane in such a way that it does not distract from the needed uniform appearance.

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