Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Are there any blind people here using walkers or wheelchairs? I just broke my hip and will have to temporarily use a walker. Not sure how to add a white cane to a walker? Any thoughts much appreciated :-) (self.Blind)
submitted by PairSimilar9829
RollForParadise 1 points 1y ago
I would speak to your orientation specialist, they are trained to help out with these kinds of things. I’m currently going to be going through training with the wheelchair and my cane
KillerLag 1 points 1y ago
It can be very difficulty, depending on how much support you need for the walker/rollator. There are two ways to do it, but both sort of suck.
One way is to basically rest the bottom part of your palm on the walker handle and use the ring finger and pinkie to hold the walker (works better on a rollator). You use your thumb, index finger and middle finger to hold the white cane like a pencil. This technique is difficulty because one hand is doing double duty, with not the best grip for the cane or the walker/rollator. It also doesn't let you scan to the other side (so if the cane is in your right hand, you can't scan to the left side of the walker, and can scan only partially in front).
The other technique is to basically tie down (or use zip-ties) a cane in the middle of the walker/rollator (works better if it has a solid bar in the front). It can be used to scan the front and to the sides. However, if someone needs both hands for the support, this is how it would go.....
1) You use one hand to scan the cane across the width of the walker.
2) You put both hands on the handles and take a step forward.
3) You put one hand back on the cane and do another scan. Then return your hand back to the walker handle.
This technique provides more safety, but takes significantly more time.
I have had a client use something like a buzzclip to help identify things in front of him, but it doesn't pick things up on the sides well, and it can't detect drop offs.
One way is to basically rest the bottom part of your palm on the walker handle and use the ring finger and pinkie to hold the walker (works better on a rollator). You use your thumb, index finger and middle finger to hold the white cane like a pencil. This technique is difficulty because one hand is doing double duty, with not the best grip for the cane or the walker/rollator. It also doesn't let you scan to the other side (so if the cane is in your right hand, you can't scan to the left side of the walker, and can scan only partially in front).
The other technique is to basically tie down (or use zip-ties) a cane in the middle of the walker/rollator (works better if it has a solid bar in the front). It can be used to scan the front and to the sides. However, if someone needs both hands for the support, this is how it would go.....
1) You use one hand to scan the cane across the width of the walker.
2) You put both hands on the handles and take a step forward.
3) You put one hand back on the cane and do another scan. Then return your hand back to the walker handle.
This technique provides more safety, but takes significantly more time.
I have had a client use something like a buzzclip to help identify things in front of him, but it doesn't pick things up on the sides well, and it can't detect drop offs.
PairSimilar9829 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I am thinking of something more electronic. Something like Super Lidar, or lighter sense, or some kind of smart came?
Shadowwynd 1 points 1y ago
Some of my engineering students several years ago made an electronic cane for a little girl using a front-facing walker. She had a habit of going down hallways at school full tilt and finding doors that were open in the hallway with her face. IIRC it was a long fiberglass (lightweight) arm that stayed horizontally in front of her, connected to a switch connected to an electronic squeaker.
You might be able to rig something similar with stiff wire (like metal coat hanger stiff) and little craft bells (like from Michaels or Hobby Lobby) - little "cat whiskers" on the walker that would give you some tactile/audible feedback about things directly in front/side of you. I envision the stiff wire attached to the corner of your walker, with a 10 inch (25 cm) piece protruding out straight out and another piece sticking out to the side, with each wire whisker having a little bell at the end. When you bang into something with the whisker you hear the bell and feel the vibration through your hands.
You might be able to rig something similar with stiff wire (like metal coat hanger stiff) and little craft bells (like from Michaels or Hobby Lobby) - little "cat whiskers" on the walker that would give you some tactile/audible feedback about things directly in front/side of you. I envision the stiff wire attached to the corner of your walker, with a 10 inch (25 cm) piece protruding out straight out and another piece sticking out to the side, with each wire whisker having a little bell at the end. When you bang into something with the whisker you hear the bell and feel the vibration through your hands.
BenandGracie 1 points 1y ago
I have heard of cane techniques for wheelchairs, but I don’t know anything about them.
thatawkwardcosplayer 1 points 1y ago
I used duct tape when I was on crutches! Just use a lot of it and some painters blue tape on first so it doesn’t ruin any reflective tape if you have it on
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