The white cane is not so spooky, here are four reasons why
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The white cane is not so spooky, here are four reasons why
October 15 is White Cane Day
I no longer see it as a frightful Halloween costume, but as a powerful mobility device to help me confidently and safely move independently in the world.
Some people fear losing their sight more than public speaking, wild animals, or even a plane crash. I used to be one of those people. Actually, what filled me with dread was not so
much as being blind, it was looking blind, if you know what I mean. As a child, I recall the rare times I encountered someone blind, you would have thought I had seen a ghost or a scary monster. Those huge black glasses obscured most of their human face and that long white cane extended from their hand like a tentacle. The white cane seemed to glide like magic on the ground reminding me of a witch’s broom. Spooky!
Now that I have had over five years to adjust to being blind, using a variety of accessible tools, the white cane is no longer so spooky. I no longer see it as a frightful Halloween costume, but as a powerful mobility device to help me confidently and safely move independently in the world.
From Isolation to Inclusion
My perspective changed completely after weeks of working with a trainer at the Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The gradual loss of my sight was a slow and steady decline in my ability and desire to socialize in the world. First, came the blurring of printed words. Next, I was unable to drive after dark. Finally, I could no longer see my house, my furniture, my loved ones, or my own face. My world went completely dark.
My perspective changed completely after weeks of working with a trainer at the Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He kindly and patiently listened to my apprehensions about the white cane. He diligently taught me how the white cane is used to help a visually impaired person independently travel from place to place.
I received additional training with the white cane through the National Federation of the Blind Silver Bells training program.
In learning how to use the white cane, here are four reasons why the white cane empowers me to live my best independent life.
- A Symbol Indicating Visual Impairment
The white cane is a symbol or signal to others that I am a visually impaired person. This knowledge helps them understand that even though I have lost my sight, I have another means of “seeing” my way safely crossing the street, opening doors, and going upstairs for instance. People usually respond with warm and helpful offers of support and assistance if I need it. I have found that using the white cane does not evoke fear or pity in others so much as it evokes feelings of generous concern.
2. Sensory Assistance for Better Mobility
The white cane helps you not to stumble and fall. It helps to indicate potential dangers ahead. The rolling ball on the tip of the cane helps to differentiate different surface patterns going from a concrete sidewalk to a cobblestone walkway, or from a wooden floor to a carpeted room. It takes lots of practice to become more proficient in using the white cane but it is certainly worth it! It allows you to use your sense of hearing (that is what the tapping of the cane is about) and your sense of touch. When you tap you can hear the difference between a surface, such as a different tap for metal from wood.
3. Independence
If I did not have my white cane, it would be very difficult for me to walk outside of my door and move freely and safely in the world. The white cane allows me to independently, without having the support of another person, feel and maneuver my way from place to place. I can’t imagine being without the white cane trying to cross the street and not knowing where the curb of the sidewalk ends and when to step down. Furthermore, without my white cane, it would be difficult to find my way through a crowded airport or shopping mall. While I may still need to ask for assistance, the white cane goes a long way in helping me confidently learn and understand my surroundings.
4. Free from Fear
As I reflect on how I used to think of the white cane as mysterious and spooky, I now see it in a totally different light. By gaining knowledge, personal training, and lived experience; I now appreciate the white cane as a valuable accessible apparatus.
The white cane is now my personal escort and I don’t leave home without it.
The Free White Cane Program with the National Federation of the Blind
For more information, check out the National Federation of the Blind’s article celebrating White Cane Day on October 15.
Join the American Council of the Blind of Virginia’s Email List
As a member of ACBVA, I encourage you to join our email list to be a part of a vibrant community of visually impaired persons, attend informative monthly online meetings, and learn more about important accessible resources.
For those interested in the benefits of the American Council of the Blind of Virginia (ACBVA) organization, you can also become a member, click the link below!
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