Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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White cane laws (self.Blind)
submitted by bird98
So, I'm from Nebraska. I'm visually impaired with a field of view that is slightly under 110 degrees. To explain my visual impairment further, can see fine on the right side, but on the left side I cannot see past my nose. (I have a graphic I made for this to explain it to fully sighted people, but I assume it would be less than helpful to post here.) My acuity is correctable with glasses.
I posted in here a while back about using a white cane. I bought one on impulse from Amazon, and then learned after it had been delivered that it is illegal for me to use it in my state. It's a class III misdemeanor, actually. I could technically get up to a $500 fine and/or 3 months in prison, because I'm not legally blind.
I posted in a blind and visually impaired Facebook group asking for objective resources that show that visually impaired people who are not legally blind, such as myself, can benefit from use of a white cane. I asked because I'm currently drafting an email to my state unicameral representative to ask her to introduce a bill to alter this law to include visually impaired people, so that I, and others, would be able to legally use a white cane. It's a matter of safety. I've been hit by cars coming from the left twice. I run into people on my left side all the time. For the record, I don't know if this law is ever actually enforced. I mostly want it off the books. I don't want being arrested for using a mobility aid to even be a hypothetical possibility.
The amount of dissent and disapproval I received was, quite frankly, astonishing.
The nature of my visual impairment, combined with the fact that it is caused by a traumatic brain injury, makes me feel incredibly unsafe and awkward doing everyday things. I will frequently choose to risk dark underpasses in the evening when I'm walking home from work (as a 20 year old woman), rather than crossing the street. I believe I would be tangibly safer with a white cane.
My question today is: How do you all feel about visually impaired people using the white cane? When I say visually impaired, I mean a vision problem that causes difficulty or distress in daily life, is not correctable, and is above the threshold for legal blindness.
Also, if anyone has any links to studies or other resources on visually impaired people using white canes or even identification canes, I'd love to look at those as well!
Thanks everyone!
I posted in here a while back about using a white cane. I bought one on impulse from Amazon, and then learned after it had been delivered that it is illegal for me to use it in my state. It's a class III misdemeanor, actually. I could technically get up to a $500 fine and/or 3 months in prison, because I'm not legally blind.
I posted in a blind and visually impaired Facebook group asking for objective resources that show that visually impaired people who are not legally blind, such as myself, can benefit from use of a white cane. I asked because I'm currently drafting an email to my state unicameral representative to ask her to introduce a bill to alter this law to include visually impaired people, so that I, and others, would be able to legally use a white cane. It's a matter of safety. I've been hit by cars coming from the left twice. I run into people on my left side all the time. For the record, I don't know if this law is ever actually enforced. I mostly want it off the books. I don't want being arrested for using a mobility aid to even be a hypothetical possibility.
The amount of dissent and disapproval I received was, quite frankly, astonishing.
The nature of my visual impairment, combined with the fact that it is caused by a traumatic brain injury, makes me feel incredibly unsafe and awkward doing everyday things. I will frequently choose to risk dark underpasses in the evening when I'm walking home from work (as a 20 year old woman), rather than crossing the street. I believe I would be tangibly safer with a white cane.
My question today is: How do you all feel about visually impaired people using the white cane? When I say visually impaired, I mean a vision problem that causes difficulty or distress in daily life, is not correctable, and is above the threshold for legal blindness.
Also, if anyone has any links to studies or other resources on visually impaired people using white canes or even identification canes, I'd love to look at those as well!
Thanks everyone!
princesspooball 21 points 4y ago
I would cross-post to /r/legaladvice
My guess is that this is for people pretending that they are legally blind and not those who are visually impaired
My guess is that this is for people pretending that they are legally blind and not those who are visually impaired
OutWestTexas 20 points 4y ago
I think if you have a need for a white cane (which you obviously articulated) then you should use one. Get your doctor to write you a note stating you have a visual impairment in case anyone presses the issue. I think the law was probably passed to prevent people from faking blindness for some kind of gain.
Hellsacomin94 14 points 4y ago
Most O&M specialists will tell you that getting visually impaired people who would benefit from a cane to use one is the larger problem. I doubt you would be arrested for using a white cane and it would be easy enough to get a doctors note if you were. I say cane on if it helps.
[deleted] 5 points 4y ago
[deleted]
paris0022 11 points 4y ago
Two things you need to do.
1. Discuss this with your eye DR and have your chart info ready.
2. Contact your state blind services. See links below.
https://ncbvi.nebraska.gov
1. Discuss this with your eye DR and have your chart info ready.
2. Contact your state blind services. See links below.
https://ncbvi.nebraska.gov
LegendOfBobbyTables 8 points 4y ago
Fellow Nebraskan here. I have NEVER been questioned about using my white cane. I am obviously VI, so everyone assumes I should be using it. This type of law will likely only be enforced if you are not VI and trying to use a cane to get people to donate to you while panhandling or something else sinister like that. If you feel you need a cane to travel effectively, than I would say use the cane.
bird98 [OP] 3 points 4y ago
Hi! I'm glad no one has questioned you about your use of the cane. I have actually used mine about three times outside of the house, and I was not questioned either. Maybe I'm just neurotic about it. This is really reassuring.
iletthedogsout234 6 points 4y ago
I would suggest reaching out to your local department for assistive and rehabilitative services, might be named something else there.
But to be honest and not to sound like a jerk, I’m not sure that they will consider you visually impaired, at least not so much to use the services. I’m in Texas and services are available for those with 30 degrees or less.
You will definitely want O&M training though and if you can’t get it through your local services see if your insurance will cover a private trainer.
But to be honest and not to sound like a jerk, I’m not sure that they will consider you visually impaired, at least not so much to use the services. I’m in Texas and services are available for those with 30 degrees or less.
You will definitely want O&M training though and if you can’t get it through your local services see if your insurance will cover a private trainer.
bird98 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I am aware that a lot of O&M trainers (especially government ones) require one to be legally blind or at least "approaching" legal blindness to qualify for the training. I have a pretty weird situation, because I have been visually impaired for almost 11 years now, and as far as I know, it was never suggested to me or my parents that I receive any sort of training, apart from physical therapy to regain my strength and balance after my traumatic brain injury. My neuro-ophthalmologist and neuro-surgeon and every optometrist I've ever seen has been so adamant that I never drive a car, and yet no one seems to have realized that I might need training to get around better. I used Chadwick prisms for a short while, but received no training in how to use them, so I never figured them out and after less than a year switched back to regular old glasses for my nearsightedness. (Which is a shame, because it's my understanding that they were almost a thousand dollars out of pocket for my parents.)
Thank you for your suggestion, I'll definitely look into O&M trainers.
Thank you for your suggestion, I'll definitely look into O&M trainers.
iletthedogsout234 2 points 4y ago
Did you say you’re in college? Could your university have some resources maybe? I hated hated my local division for the blind because they took about a month to return calls even after multiple calls to them so I gave up O&M through them. But then there was a local independent living center that offered classes so I went there. Good luck!
jrs12 4 points 4y ago
You are in a gray area here. Many agencies won't take you on for training because your vision is "good enough".
I personally find the white cane laws confusing. Most states have a law saying you must stop for a person with a white cane, but all of my training has taught me that it is unsafe to cross for a car that is stopped. You can't guarantee that they have seen you, that the other lane has stopped, or that someone won't try to pass on the berm and hit you anyway. Still, people with visual impairments fought hard for those laws. You'd probably get your head bit off by trying to change them, even if they are contradictory.
I say be a law breaker like me and use your cane! There are many reasons to use a cane even if you aren't legally blind. If you get in trouble I'll come visit you in jail.
I personally find the white cane laws confusing. Most states have a law saying you must stop for a person with a white cane, but all of my training has taught me that it is unsafe to cross for a car that is stopped. You can't guarantee that they have seen you, that the other lane has stopped, or that someone won't try to pass on the berm and hit you anyway. Still, people with visual impairments fought hard for those laws. You'd probably get your head bit off by trying to change them, even if they are contradictory.
I say be a law breaker like me and use your cane! There are many reasons to use a cane even if you aren't legally blind. If you get in trouble I'll come visit you in jail.
multi-instrumental 4 points 4y ago
If you need it... use it!
AlexandrinaIsHere 4 points 4y ago
I was under the impression that the laws regarding white canes are purely to avert "watering down" the impression that sighted people have.
As it's illegal for a sighted person to have a white cane, it's irrational for a fashion house to popularize white canes. So it's unlikely that a driver will see a white cane and think anything other than "that person is blind and i should watch out".
Feel free to follow the other comments advice about trying to get the law altered to be more inclusive. I'm fairly certain you couldn't possibly be at risk of arrest for using a cane though.
As it's illegal for a sighted person to have a white cane, it's irrational for a fashion house to popularize white canes. So it's unlikely that a driver will see a white cane and think anything other than "that person is blind and i should watch out".
Feel free to follow the other comments advice about trying to get the law altered to be more inclusive. I'm fairly certain you couldn't possibly be at risk of arrest for using a cane though.
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