White Cane For The Blind

Hi

I live in the UK and I am registered partially sighted. I use a white cane but people don't seem to notice it very well. I have seen some canes that have red tape on the ends but I thought they were just for Deaf/blind people. I have tried looking on the internet and on the RNIB website and they seem to say it is used by Deaf/blind people but it can be used by hearing people on their canes to increase visibility. I am a bit confused as to if I can or not dose anyone know>

Thanks :)

I have to agree with Bob, and can see no significance as a deaf person, other than for drivers wanting to beep a horn at you. OK wait, maybe that is valid after all, given that you have to cross streets and may not know when it is most safe. Hmmm, you should bring this up to an org that deals with it.

The use of a white cane with red tape, as Bob says, is pretty Universal in the suggestion that the user has some issue. Not to throw any trash on drivers, but many might ignore the cane and the user, no matter.

On a humorous note, perhaps those with sight and hearing problems should be allowed to use a cane, with a red tip, that looks like an assault rifle, perhaps giving abusive drivers and others some pause in disregarding you, or others with your affliction.

DOC

Again, no offense, but the red tape is an added clue to those aware, who care.

2009-09-20 08:36:10 by Evangeline

To teach a blind or visually impaired person correct cane techniques

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@

Price: $38.99 $39.99

Visually Impared Walking Cane
Foam Handle
Adjustable from 30"-39"

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

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 ask this as I was outside my house yesterday and a man got off the bus, at the bus stop. He was wearing dark glasses and carrying the white cane that blind people use. As he walked away from the bus he looked at his watch, presumably to check the time!

True story.

What was that all about, please?

Many thanks for your answers to this puzzler.....

Yes they do travel free .He could be registered Blind but still have an element of vision... Eye conditions vary .. tunnel vision for instance, would mean he would be able to see his watch.. but his peripheral vision would mean he would probably walk into a lamp-post ... dark glasses prevent sun glare... and the cane aids mobility and identifies steps and kerbs. You don`t have to be totally blind to be registered ... if they can`t read the top line on an Optician`s Chart they can be registered blind ...

2008-06-04 14:05:59 by Rolsy