Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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white cane use question (self.Blind)
submitted by getthefacts
Hi - My daughter is 4.5 years old and has severe farsightedness. She is +9.5 in each eye. She was first diagnosed at 6 months and we noticed a big change immediately. She is attending preschool and receiving TVI and COMS services. She is able to see through her glasses well enough. However, she has issues seeing things in her lower and side field of vision due to where the glasses end. Her TVI is recommending that she be introduced her to a white cane. I am all for introducing her to tools that help her feel move secure in her environment, including the white cane if it make her feel confident.
I'm wondering do people with refractive errors use white canes? I thought people with other eye diseases would use a white cane. Can you help me understand who uses one? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm trying to learn.
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Thank you!
I'm wondering do people with refractive errors use white canes? I thought people with other eye diseases would use a white cane. Can you help me understand who uses one? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm trying to learn.
​
Thank you!
CloudyBeep 9 points 2y ago
The TVI wouldn't be recommending one if they didn't think it would be useful.
If it's discovered later that a white cane isn't beneficial, your daughter can stop using it, but I think giving her a white cane now will allow her mobility to not be restricted.
If it's discovered later that a white cane isn't beneficial, your daughter can stop using it, but I think giving her a white cane now will allow her mobility to not be restricted.
getthefacts [OP] 5 points 2y ago
You're right. Thank you for making it clear. It doesn't matter the reason, if it helps, then use it.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
ps-im-blind 5 points 2y ago
First of all, I want to thank you as a parent for understanding that a white cane can be beneficial to a VI child, especially since so many parents have chosen to reject it because of the stigma around it. That being said, I would say definitely try to at least introduce her to a white cane and those techniques, since it does take awhile to get used to it and learn to use them correctly. I was introduced to cane techniques around 3rd grade, and even though I didn't use my cane much in middle school, it made my decision to use one in high school/college/beyond that much easier (since I had experienced it before, it wasn't quite as scary).
Hope that helps!
Hope that helps!
Opinion-Future -4 points 2y ago
is she blind? because if you are in the USA it is illegal for someone not legally blind to use a white cane
getthefacts [OP] 2 points 2y ago
She was in the past due to bilateral amblyopia caused by severe farsightedness. However, I'm not sure if that has changed or not. I didn't realize it was illegal, which makes sense. She has trouble with stuff on the floor and with steps because of where her glasses end.
[deleted] 9 points 2y ago
It's not at all illegal in the United States. I've got low vision (due to reduced contrast sensitivity, lack of depth perception, and a narrow visual field) but am not legally blind. A nurse suggested I look into getting a white cane and my doctors were all for it. I use it to judge curbs and steps, check for dtopp-offs in my blind spot while walking, and as a visible symbol to others when I'm in crowded places.
There are non-profits Iin the US that will give a free white cane to anyone who needs one, whether or not one is ordered by a doctor.
I'm *some* states it's illegal for a fully-sighred person to use a white cane in order to fraudulently claim right-of-way in traffic situations, but even that only comes into play if the police have to get involved.
Your daughter is at a great age to learn this sort of thing. If it turns out a cane will help her later in life, she'll already be able to use it intuitively since she literally will have grown up with it. I think giving her the chance to use one is a great idea and could help her immensely in years to come. Worst case scenario, it's not the right thing for her and you donate it to a vision-impaired child who can use it.
There are non-profits Iin the US that will give a free white cane to anyone who needs one, whether or not one is ordered by a doctor.
I'm *some* states it's illegal for a fully-sighred person to use a white cane in order to fraudulently claim right-of-way in traffic situations, but even that only comes into play if the police have to get involved.
Your daughter is at a great age to learn this sort of thing. If it turns out a cane will help her later in life, she'll already be able to use it intuitively since she literally will have grown up with it. I think giving her the chance to use one is a great idea and could help her immensely in years to come. Worst case scenario, it's not the right thing for her and you donate it to a vision-impaired child who can use it.
getthefacts [OP] 3 points 2y ago
O thank you! That makes me feel better. I don’t want to have to prove she can’t see “enough” whenever she uses it.
WorldlyBoysenberry26 4 points 2y ago
I want to second Eddie’s excellent post. I did a lot of work in k12 education with blind and low vision students. It’s not at all uncommon for people with low vision to use white canes, even people who might not technically qualify as “legally blind”. Canes can often be used as ID canes to let others know, say at a cross walk, that you have low vision. Some people travel with the cane in a constant position in front of them as kind of a buffer to catch things they might miss, which is different from the sweeping motion that people are more familiar with. Great time to get introduced to a cane and find out how it works for her. Best of luck!
Opinion-Future -2 points 2y ago
visual acuity is measured with best correction eg glasses, you may be able to get glasses with bigger lenses or different shaped lenses
that may work better?
When she is older a symbol cane may help used only for letting people around her know of vi not as a mobility device
that may work better?
When she is older a symbol cane may help used only for letting people around her know of vi not as a mobility device
getthefacts [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Her vision without glasses is 20/1000 (estimated). Its hard to know what her vision is with glasses because she too young to say exactly but the glasses definitely help.
[deleted] 2 points 2y ago
[deleted]
getthefacts [OP] 2 points 2y ago
There are not many glasses options for kids that small
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