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 »
Tags: cane tips, mobility training, white caneby 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 »
Tags: Independent Travel, Mental Map, Mobility, white caneby 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 »
Tags: Mobility, white caneby 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 »
Tags: Mobility, mobility training, white caneby 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 »
Tags: Independent Travel, orientation and mobility, white caneby 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 »
Tags: Guide dog, Mobility, orientation and mobility, white caneby 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 »
Tags: Independence, Mobility, proud, strong, white cane