I was also initially embarrassed using a cane in public but soon came to realize I can’t really see other people anyway so who cares? Lol

Well. You make them accept it. Every time you use it. I believe in you. You shouldn’t feel ashamed at all. They should. Every time they are a jerk.

Did anyone actually do or say anything to make you feel out of place? Because I've been using a cane full time for years and years, and I reckon I probably got about one reaction every six months or so, and that includes stuff pointed out to me by sighted buddies. By far the most common is little kids saying mummy, why does that lady have that stick? Which honestly is a pretty reasonable question if you're five. I can count the number of really negative reactions on the fingers of one hand. Ok I guess a lot of people notice it but don't do or say anything but I also guess that's sort of the idea so they know to give you a bit of space, otherwise you're just smashing into people all the time.


And if anyone did say anything, really, who cares. It's not worth your time worrying about it. The worst part of it for me is just endlessly having to explain stuff. You don't have to do that but it think it helps everyone if you do.

I am totally blind and have been using a in some form since I was 5, I think the shame everyone keeps talking about is in your head. I may have gotten three or four comments all these years of using a cane. Trust me, people generally don’t go around staring and pointing at blind people, and if they do, who cares. If you need to use a cane, suck it up and use it. Don’t worry about what people around you are thinking.

I'm sighted. I live in a city in which most people walk. People with canes are common and I've never noticed that any people using mobility aids were being made fun of in any way. People who have to navigate without sight or only partial vision are respected. The cyclists are crazy. I hope this doesn't sound outrageous, but there are times when I wish I had a cane while crossing the street because I assume that bike riders do slow down for people with visual disabilities. And if they don't, a swinging cane might knock them off their bike.

It’s really hard at first! It does get easier. For me, it reduced my anxiety that I didn’t realise was rising highly in crowded situations and crossing the road.

I used a rigid cane at first for this reason - I couldn't hide it away and had to carry it anyway, so I just used it. I kept putting the folding one back in my bag.

I also used it first on a couple of out of town trips, because I could convince myself that I'd never be around those people again, so it didn't matter what they thought - even though that's still also mostly true in my home town, it made it easier somehow.

I did that the first time I used a white cane. I was in high school and completely ashamed of needing a mobility aid. It’s hard at first, but it does get better. 6 years later and I proudly have a guide dog by my side, and sometimes I still use a cane but I’m not embarrassed by it anymore.
I definitely get weird looks, according to my friends, because I have minimal remaining vision and I can still look at my phone so there are always the morons who think I’m faking. But, I’m proud of who I am and I hope someday you will be too. The most important thing to remember is that a white cane is not the thing that makes you look strange; it’s your freedom. It’s the tool that will give you independence and after a while you will notice the difference.
Best of luck to you!

Did you read save external gestures of shame?

I can not afford mine yet

Literally no one is unaccepting of a blind person walking with a cane.