You use tools every day to achieve your goals. Have you looked at those tools recently to evaluate if they are still good for the tasks they were originally chosen for? Are you looking for newer ones?

Not all productivity tools are created equal

How do you know if a tool is still working for you? It’s important that when a blind person chooses their white cane, the cane (a tool for mobility and independence) should be the right fit for that person and their circumstances. There are a lot of canes and personal characteristics that go into the decision as to which cane is best for any particular person, but, one of the most important is the length of the cane.

Why is the cane length so important? If the cane is too long then it becomes unwieldy for the person and impedes their travel abilities. If the cane is too short, it also impedes their travel abilities because the person has to walk more slowly in order to avoid obstacles.

So in general, the shorter the cane, the slower you go and the more hesitation you have in your steps.

So, given that a too long cane and a too short cane will impede instead of assist, what is the right length of cane for someone? In general, the cane should touch the floor and reach somewhere between the person’s chin and nose. For example, I’m over six feet tall, which is seventy-two inches, and the cane I use is sixty-one inches. It comes right up to my chin. That’s a perfect length because I tend to walk quickly and having a longer cane enables me to travel at a speed I’m comfortable with.

So, having the right mobility tool length has a big impact on a person’s comfort level and ability to do their job.

The tools that everybody uses to achieve their jobs, sighted or not, are very important because if you don’t have the right one, firstly, you feel uncomfortable and, secondly, it impedes your progress.

Here is a great way to discover if a tool is working for you. When you need it, do you quickly and easily use it? Or, do you find yourself avoiding it and opting to use other things instead?

Take a close look at the tools you use doing your job. Is it helping you achieve what you want to? Are you comfortable using the tool? Is it easy to operate? Does it do what you need it to do? If you answered, “No,” to any of the above questions, it is time to find a new one that meets your needs and assists you to achieve your upward mobility.