Cane For The Blind

A few years ago, I heard that it is illegal for a person who is not blind, to own a white cane (the kind of cane blind people use to get around). The only reason I could think of this to be illegal is because someone might take advantage of it. Is there any truth to this?

It isn't illegal for a sighted person to own one. You can buy them over the internet or at blind conventions and so on. Anyone can own one (though I'm not sure why you'd want one if you aren't blind)

However, it IS illegal to USE one if you are not, by law, blind.

2008-01-06 04:58:21 by Joshu@

To teach a blind or visually impaired person correct cane techniques

I need a cane like blind people use for Friday, so buying one off the internet is out of the question.

Does anyone know of a store (preferably somewhere like Target or Walmart) where I could buy a blind man's (a white?) cane?

Why would a blind person want to sell you his cane? I would think he would be using it. JK.

2009-10-28 18:58:49 by Joe

Price: $22.45 $22.45

I'm looking for a store not the internet located in Dallas

A local Lions club should have them. They give them to the blind for free.....at least they do around the NC area. They are made by the handicapped, so it benefits two good causes.

Check your phone book and see if you can contact a local chapter.

Found this for the Helen Keller Center. They have a regional office in Dallas. You might could call them to get better local information.

South Central Region
LB No.3
4455 LBJ Freeway
Dallas Texas 75244-5998
U.S.A.
(214)490-9677

2009-04-23 17:56:34 by Scott P

Price: $269.00 $215.20

This came up in another question I asked, and I really am confused about it.

The NFB is against having a red tip on the end of a white cane for a person with a visual impairment.

My personal thought is that the red tip makes the cane even more obvious, because while people may register white cane = blind, more people will register red=stop, so between the two colors, more people will recognize that a white cane with a red tip means "This person has a visual impairment. Be awara."

What are the reasons for the NFB being so strongly against the red tip?

(Note: I am not against the NFB. I think they do some great things. I'm just confused on their stance on this topic).
I_come_from...: Thank you for the clarification of your viewpoint. It was indeed your answer that spurred this question; however, I have in the past had experience with other NFB members who stated the NFB's standpoint against red tips.

I do not know the canes you describe, but they do not sound like they are proper white canes at all...a proper white cane should be, I agree, all or mostly white. My cane, for example, is mostly white. It has, near the tip, a band of red about two or three inches long, and at the top is a andle that is black rubber (it is the same handle that my mom's boyfriend has on some of his golf clubs, coincidentally...a very comfortable grip). The rest of the cane is all white, and the cane comes up just above my armpit (I was told this was good for me as a beginner, as it is long enough for two steps, but not awkward...it has served me well). Canes only coming up to the waist...what's the point of that? You don't have any time to react to what the cane "shows".

Okay, I'm pretty sure the NFB as a whole is not strongly against this. I'm guessing you got this idea from my answer, and that's my fault. Sorry for the confusion. I, personally, think an all white cane is better than a cane with a red tip AND a black handle and other black parts on it. The most common type of folding cane comes to mind here. I do think white stands out a lot more, but white with just a red tip is fine too. It's those folding canes that only have a little white on them that I don't like. They're meant to be inconspicuous and NOT noticeable and usually encouraged by "professionals" who think it's better to blend in and not "look blind". THAT is ridiculous and an accident waiting to happen all at once. I'm fine with red tips, as long as they stand out enough. I imagine you're blind as well so I'm not sure how I can better describe the type of cane i'm talking about, but I know a lot of kids in our local transition program who use them. They only come up to about waist height, are a bit thinner than usual and are mostly red and black with a little white in the middle. They have about six sections to fold up and are so small when folded that they can be easily hid in a pocket or purse...which is the highly encouraged trend in the transition program. the parents are just as bad, not wanting the canes to be unfolded in public, and the kids just learn to either hide or not use their canes and not draw attention to themselves or "look blind". This is what I am against and what I'm pretty sure the NFB is against. Now, I realize not everyone is like this, and I realize that folding or telescoping canes can be very useful in situations where a rigid cane can cause problems...say you're at a theme park and want to be getting on and off rides a lot without parting with your cane, or flying and your cane is too difficult to stow comfortably in flight. I myself have an NFB telescoping cane that I use as a spare when I can't use my rigid cane for what ever reason, and I'm all for red tips as long as they do in fact make the cane more affective. I'm just against hiding the canes or making them harder to see.

2008-08-14 15:02:54 by Jewel

I'm stage managing a play, "Wait Until Dark" where the main Character is blind. We want the production to be as close to the time period as possible. Looking for photo or description of height, weight and colors.

a strong wooden one painted white!!!

2009-01-03 06:52:17 by ismetell