Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How bad of an idea would an all black cane be? (self.Blind)
submitted by noaimpara
I want an all black cane for fashion purposes only, (I mean, I actually need and use a black cane regularly, but the average black grip, white body and red tip ones) because it would match with most of my clothes and just look cool in general.
But then again, how bad of an idea is this? Will it basically be invisible as soon as it get dark? I’m mainly concerned about visibility.
I honestly have no idea. Ambutech lets you customize canes to be all black so I assume it’s not an automatic death machine, but still.
What do you guys think? Have any of you ever had an all black cane? Would be very interested to hear from O&M instructors too! I haven’t had a class in years and forgot all of that informations about canes themselves.
But then again, how bad of an idea is this? Will it basically be invisible as soon as it get dark? I’m mainly concerned about visibility.
I honestly have no idea. Ambutech lets you customize canes to be all black so I assume it’s not an automatic death machine, but still.
What do you guys think? Have any of you ever had an all black cane? Would be very interested to hear from O&M instructors too! I haven’t had a class in years and forgot all of that informations about canes themselves.
vwlsmssng 12 points 2y ago
When I'm accompanying someone with a white cane I can see in the eyes of oncomers a moment of focus (on the cane), followed by confusion, then realisation and often by action as the step aside or grab and drag away a child or other inattentive companion.
With anything other than the reasonably well known symbolism of a white cane they are just going to let you walk into them.
Now if you are out hiking, you are unlikely to meet other people on the trail and proper hiking pole could be better in so many ways.
if you are at a social event and amongst enough friends and not moving about much then an all black cane could still work sufficiently. I don't think you'd know until you try it. I suspect it would work until it doesn't.
With anything other than the reasonably well known symbolism of a white cane they are just going to let you walk into them.
Now if you are out hiking, you are unlikely to meet other people on the trail and proper hiking pole could be better in so many ways.
if you are at a social event and amongst enough friends and not moving about much then an all black cane could still work sufficiently. I don't think you'd know until you try it. I suspect it would work until it doesn't.
noaimpara [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I’ve heard about that a lot actually, like people not recognizing it as a blind cane if it doesn’t have a red tip and i find that super weird. I used to have one that’s all white and I never had an issue, perhaps because i’m in europe. But it’s definitely something to consider thank you!
vwlsmssng 1 points 2y ago
All white is the rule in the UK too.
One or more red stripes on a white cane indicates the owner is deaf-blind.
https://deafblind.org.uk/deafblind-awareness-red-and-white-canes/
One or more red stripes on a white cane indicates the owner is deaf-blind.
https://deafblind.org.uk/deafblind-awareness-red-and-white-canes/
NonstopBus 6 points 2y ago
I’ve got a mostly black cane right now and it works for me. It also is fully reflective so that helps me feel more secure about using it at night time. That being said, most people don’t know what it is since it’s not white and I’ve have people just not move out of the way when a friend was helping me leave a restaurants and things.
But I have a decent amount of usable vision on good eye days so I really only need it more to help with low light situations or unfamiliar areas I might be at with friends. So it works for me for right now. As my vision gets worse I’ll end up retiring it for a more traditional white version just to help other understand what’s going on.
But I have a decent amount of usable vision on good eye days so I really only need it more to help with low light situations or unfamiliar areas I might be at with friends. So it works for me for right now. As my vision gets worse I’ll end up retiring it for a more traditional white version just to help other understand what’s going on.
noaimpara [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks for sharing I really appreciate it!
I also have a lot of decent usable vision, but I’m fully independent and only "not" use it when I’m indoors or with friends actually.
The ID thing is still something that’s wild to me, but everyone is pointing it out. I’ve never met someone like that in the wild, even when I had an all white cane before. But I guess that + reduced visibility would not be a good combo.
I also have a lot of decent usable vision, but I’m fully independent and only "not" use it when I’m indoors or with friends actually.
The ID thing is still something that’s wild to me, but everyone is pointing it out. I’ve never met someone like that in the wild, even when I had an all white cane before. But I guess that + reduced visibility would not be a good combo.
Drop9Reddit 5 points 2y ago
The main reason they are white is the tape/paint is reflective so a car can see you easily travelling with a black cane at night would be extremely dangerous.
noaimpara [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah that’s what I was thinking :/
BaginaJon 5 points 2y ago
White canes are identifiers as much as tools. Historically the white cane with the red tip is a symbol and informs those around you. I would guess your O&M instructor would be against it. But if you’re good at mobility and independent, no one is stopping ya.
noaimpara [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I mean, I haven’t seen her in a good while I doubt she’d be concerned. ID is definitely a new concern now, but one I’m kind of on the fence about. If someone is using a long stick like a blind person would, I would assume they’re blind right? But again sighted people might feel differently about that. I’ll definitely think about it thanks for bringing it up!
changeneverhappens 2 points 2y ago
If you're not worried about the identification aspect (which is a HUGE safety aspect of the cane) it doesn't really matter. I've seen all black canes being used and they look pretty cool. I would at least put some reflective tape on it if you plan on using it regularly.
That being said, from what i understand, white cane laws only apply to white canes, so you're not protected by white cane laws with a different color cane.
That being said, from what i understand, white cane laws only apply to white canes, so you're not protected by white cane laws with a different color cane.
noaimpara [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I’m not really concerned about laws since I’m in another country, we just have a registry for disabled people and you’re protected that way.
I wasn’t at all thinking of ID when I posted this admittedly, I’ve never met someone who doesn’t know what a cane is in the wild (even when I used an all white one). If I saw someone holding a stick in front of them and using it like they’re visually impaired, i’d assume they’re visually impaired. But then again, so many people pointed it out that it’s hard to ignore, so I’ll definitely be considering that.
I wasn’t at all thinking of ID when I posted this admittedly, I’ve never met someone who doesn’t know what a cane is in the wild (even when I used an all white one). If I saw someone holding a stick in front of them and using it like they’re visually impaired, i’d assume they’re visually impaired. But then again, so many people pointed it out that it’s hard to ignore, so I’ll definitely be considering that.
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 2y ago
I had one for a while because, well, you're right, black is the new black.
Eventually I figured out it probably wasn't very sensible.
On the upside it's just a length of carbon tube with some grip tape around the top and a fitting on the bottom, so it's a really cheap way to get a very lightweight cane. Just get some white reflective tape for it, whatever you do.
Eventually I figured out it probably wasn't very sensible.
On the upside it's just a length of carbon tube with some grip tape around the top and a fitting on the bottom, so it's a really cheap way to get a very lightweight cane. Just get some white reflective tape for it, whatever you do.
noaimpara [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I mean, it appears that you’re not dead so that sounds good to me. I might just get a black cane with some reflective tape to use in daylight and keep using my regular cane at night.
Revenant624 1 points 2y ago
In my opinion how cool would it be to be impaled on a Toyota? I personally don’t like canes so that’s why I got a seeing-eye dog. A lot of people are ignorant about the cane in the first place. We don’t need to complicate things by making them into other colors. I say get a seeing eye dog. A German Shepherd goes with everything. LOL
noaimpara [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I really like canes and don’t thing I’d ever consider a dog, despite it being much more fashionable for sure. But the Toyota doesn’t sound exactly my style. I find it weird that a lot of American seems to be bringing up the problem of ID, I’ve never encountered someone who doesn’t know what someone holding a long stick in front of them means in my country. But I guess you’re never safe from idiots so it’s something I’ll def consider.
[deleted] 2 points 2y ago
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Revenant624 1 points 2y ago
I don’t know what it is about people. Maybe they are ignorant, in their own world etc. some people look at the cane as if it’s just a walking stick. I guess it’s kind of like asking a heavyset woman when the baby was due to find out she was not pregnant at all.
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