One of the simplest and most useful tools that the vision impaired can utilize in their independence toolbox is the long-white-cane. The key to independence is the ability to travel where and when you want with safety and confidence.
And, having the right kind of long-white-cane can make all the difference. But, which cane is best for any given person? I will talk about some of the cane options available and give you some criteria that should make choosing the right cane for you very simple.
Why are White Canes White?
First things first, why is the cane used by the blind white? Well, several years ago, it was agreed that the cane for the blind would be white for two reasons. First, the white would contrast with the surroundings making it easy to locate by a vision impaired person who might have misplaced it. Second, the white color makes the cane very visible to the public (which includes traffic) and notifies them that the person carrying the cane has some kind of vision impairment. Thus, notified that there is a vision impaired person around, the public is now aware and can take extra caution.
Now, given some background, I will discuss just a few of the cane styles available today and why I would choose one over another in a given situation.
What is the Straight-White-Cane
Like the name suggests, the straight-white-cane is straight. In fact, that is the only way you can get it. The straight-white-cane is one of my favorites for a few reasons. First, it can’t be folded. This doesn’t sound like an advantage. However, it is and that is why it is the favorite of cane training instructors across the country.
Beginning cane users are often shy about being seen with one. That is perfectly natural. Change is always challenging. If new blind students are given a cane that can be folded and hidden away, it is too easy for them to keep their canes folded up and not use them. Mobility instructors want their students to use their canes. So, they prefer a cane that the student can’t hide and will be used.
Another reason I like the straight-white-cane is because it so light. It is often made of the lightest plastics and is really easy to carry. An additional benefit is that because the cane is so light, it is more ‘sensitive’ when it encounters an object and the user knows right away they have encountered something. The biggest selling point for me for choosing a straight-white-cane is how light it is and how easy it is to travel with.
What is the Folding or Telescoping Cane
I am tall. This means my cane is tall to. This makes it very easy to travel at the pace I want. However, when I don’t need it, the height of my straight-white-cane makes it a challenge to put aside conveniently—such while traveling on a plane.
I have several blind friends who are professional travelers and who accumulate hundreds-of-thousands -of-miles of travel a year. In order to be as flexible as possible no matter what form of transportation they take, they prefer a folding or telescoping cane. And for them, this makes a lot of sense.
A folding cane breaks down into short segments that stack upon each other like cords of wood. A telescoping cane also breaks down to a smaller size. However, rather than looking like a very small stack of wood, each segment slides into each other making for a very compact size.
As mentioned earlier, folding and telescoping canes are great while traveling because the overall size can be reduced, making it easy to store under your seat or in a briefcase. A disadvantage to folding canes is the weight. Folding canes are heavier and are less sensitive when encountering obstacles. Telescoping canes are great—except when you run into something. The canes tend to collapse into themselves (detelescope?) thus making them useless till you retelescope them.
Why is the Choice of a Cane so Important?
The vast majority of legally blind people struggle to find meaningful emplo7yment. A key to finding a good job is the ability to travel safely. The cane is one of the simplest devices to use. However, it can make the greatest difference in the quality of life for the vision impaired.
There are all kinds of canes available today that are made from a wide variety of materials. It isn’t really important which cane you use (straight-white-canes, folding canes, or telescoping canes). The important fact is that you choose one that you use. If you don’t use it, it can’t help you reach your full independence and the lifestyle you want.
Some people prefer a cane or stick that one end comes up to their chin when both you and the stick are upright and its other end is touching the ground. Another popular technique of how to measure for a blind cane is to choose a cane that is approximately 4 inches shorter than your height and will come up to your nose if stood vertically upright.