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Second Sense - Beyond Vision Loss

Archive: May 2021

Man walking with a white cane.

Choosing the Right White Cane: Factors to Consider

May 26, 2021 | Leave a Comment

by Eleni Gaves, COMS

Getting a first cane can seem overwhelming up front. From different sizes to materials and then to cane tips, there’s a lot of variety. And certainly, there is a lack of clarity about what each thing does or why so many variations exist. Add in the fact that you may be wondering how to hold […] Read More »

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Compass Directions on the outside of circle are used in creating a mental map

Mental Map: A Tool for Traveling with Less Worry

October 1, 2020 | Leave a Comment

by Eleni Gaves, COMS

  When you travel to a new destination, how do you know how to get there? What steps do you take to prepare so you will find your destination with minimal risk of getting lost? A sighted person can use GPS, consult a physical map, read street signs and look out for visual landmarks. People […] Read More »

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Mary Pat uses her cane to detect the back wall of her house and the beginning of the patio.

Learning to Use a White Cane: Mary Pat’s Journey

June 12, 2019 | Leave a Comment

by Cheryl Megurdichian

Learning to use a white cane can be terrifying. You have to trust this simple tool to find your way in a world that can be very complicated – from cracks in the sidewalk to traffic signals to electric cars that make no noise. For 20 years, Mary Pat let fear dictate part of her […] Read More »

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Angela standing with her cane next to the sign for the 'L' in the Loop.

A Wake-Up Fall: Do You Need to Refresh Your Mobility Skills?

July 16, 2018 | 1 Comment

by Polly Abbott, CVRT

  For many people, the challenge of walking along a crowded train platform is intensified by the fear of falling off the edge onto the tracks.  A person could be hurt by the fall, hit by an oncoming train or zapped to death by the electric third rail.  To avoid taking the ‘L’ is to […] Read More »

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David holds his new cane

That New Car Feel

May 2, 2017 | 1 Comment

by David Flament

It must be the culture I grew up in that makes me use car analogies for everything.  This post, of course, is not about a new car, but a new white cane. I thought it might be time to purchase a new cane because mine was showing signs of wear.  I am not sure how old […] Read More »

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Man walking down the sidewalk with a cane.

White Cane vs. Guide Dog: Why or Why Not?

September 15, 2016 | 11 Comments

by Kathy Austin, CVA

  You’re walking down the sidewalk and encounter two people with vision loss. One person is strutting along tapping his cane side to side in front of him. The other person is walking with a yellow Labrador retriever holding onto a harness handle. You ask yourself, “Why do some people travel with a white cane […] Read More »

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Madeline poses with her white cane

Madeline Conquers Her Insecurity and Turns White Cane into Fashion Statement

February 22, 2016 | 2 Comments

by Kathy Austin, Community Outreach Specialist

Three cheers for Madeline for getting past a very difficult hurdle!  Madeline was introduced to the white cane with her first lessons at Second Sense.  In honor of Retinitis Pigmentosa Awareness month, Madeline shares how she conquered her insecurity and turned her white cane into a fashion statement.  We are so proud of her!   Many of […] Read More »

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