Yes I Can Blog
#24 White Cane
Thursday, January 30, 2025 by Deb Vellines
Before I talk about Millie and how her white cane helped her mobility, I want to give an update regarding Be My Eyes (see previous blog). I called the phone app and volunteered! Much to my disappointment no one has called me for assistance. They have many more volunteers than they do help-seekers. I would love to help someone “see” something and will be sure to report what kind of help they ask for. Check my previous blog if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
Now, speaking of white canes – Millie thought of her cane as a security blanket. She didn’t leave home without it.
“I love to walk and with the help of the cane, I know where the sidewalk is uneven, if something is in front of me on the sidewalk, and where the intersection is. Also, people see the white cane and offer me all kinds of help.”
This last advantage was terrific because Millie didn’t appear to be blind.
Some people are shy to use a cane, thinking “People will know I’m blind.” So what? Many people already know if you are blind. Using a cane shows your independence!
Millie learned how to use her cane when the low vision therapist visited in her apartment and offered all kinds of kitchen and living hints (see blogs 13 and 14). The instructions for the white cane were only part of what Millie learned that day.
If you Google “using a white cane” or “white cane instruction” or “you-tube with a white cane” you can see demonstrations of its use. It’s best to have a mobility therapist teach the use of the cane, but these references can help to review the teachings.
Here are a couple of excellent web sites.
- http://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/professional-development/experts-guide/deanne-jackson-video/1235 This video is on the American Federation of the Blind website. A very uplifting film, entitled from Despair to Hope. A lot of Deanne Jackson’s hope centers on the use of her cane. Scroll down the page for a transcript.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPiPXGn4nno An ad appears at the beginning and in the middle, but they can be skipped. Lots of detail in this 23 minute YouTube. The cane they use to demonstrate is not always the fold up kind. For example, they demonstrate how to get a cane in and out of the car. This is not a problem with the fold up cane.
Another walking tip: When walking with a blind person, let them hold your elbow, rather than you hold their arm and trying to guide them where to go. “I like to follow someone,” Millie said. “People always like to hold on to my arm and guide me. Not good. Better if I hold on to their elbow.”
Previous Posts
#77 Alexa
Deb Vellines
2/1/2025
#76 Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Deb Vellines
2/1/2025
#75 Surviving without Driving
Deb Vellines
2/1/2025
#74 WayAround Tags
Deb Vellines
2/1/2025
#73 SYFOVRE eye injections
Deb Vellines
2/1/2025
#72 You Are Not a Burden!
Deb Vellines
2/1/2025
#71 Anger
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#70 Self-Confidence
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#69 Bright Focus Chats
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#68 Zoom Meeting Suggestions
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#67 Living Well with Low Vision by Prevent Blindness
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#66 The Hadley School for the Blind
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#65 AIRA
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#64 Fanny Crosby
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#63 Derek Daniel and Life After Sight Loss
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#62 – 8 Hints for Cell Phones
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#61 Retinal Implants
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#60 EyeSmart
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#59 Voice Commands
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#58 Grocery Shopping
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#57 Eye Appointments and COVID-19
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#56 Social Distancing
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#55 Be My Eyes Update
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#54 Blind Beatitudes
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#53 Seeing AI
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#52 Research & Development 2019
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#51 Yes I Can – Another 25
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#50 Yes I Can Times 25
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#49 Blind Parents
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#48 Audio Description at the Movies
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#47 3 Inspiring Blind People
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#46 Drug Update
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#45 Do You Volunteer?
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#44 5 Pinterest Pins
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#43 – Four Reference Books
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#42 Trust Instead of Worry
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#41 Depression
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#40 eSight 3
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#39 Bioptic Telescopes
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#38 – CentraSight
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#37 – 11 Bathroom Hints
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#36 Public Restrooms
Deb Vellines
1/31/2025
#35 Helen Keller Quotes
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#34 Six Tips to Choose Sunglasses
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#33 Another Be My Eyes Call
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#32 Be My Eyes Call
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#31 Quiz Answers
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
# 30 Quiz re: Sunglasses
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#29 Phone Apps Help Low Vision
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#28 News
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#27 – 9 More Ways to Help
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#26 – 9 Ways to Help
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#25 White Cane (continued)
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#24 White Cane
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#23 Be My Eyes
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#22 Dry Macular Degeneration Trials
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#21 Search Clinical Trials
Deb Vellines
1/30/2025
#20 Clinical Trials
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#19 Eye Injections (continued)
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#18 Eye Injections
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#15 Systems of Sight
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#16 Update on Systems of Sight
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#17 Knowledge is Power!!
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#14 Household Hints
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#12 Reduce the Risks of Macular Degeneration
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#13 Kitchen Hints
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#11 Beecher Binoculars
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#9 Volunteer Work
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#10 Talking Books and Magazines
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#8 Handicap Parking Permit and Restaurants
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#7 Visual Magnifying Machine
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#6 Amsler Chart
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#5 Handling Money (continued)
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#4 Shopping and Handling Money
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#3 I Have Low Vision Button
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#2 Sharing Items to Help
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025
#1 Welcome and Support Groups
Deb Vellines
1/29/2025