How to Safely Detect and Navigate Curbs With a White Cane

[@cherbrowne1637]

I'm new to low vision and walking with a cane. I'm doing ok but it's the upcurbs that get me better of me. Ive tripped 5 times but with your tips things can only get better. Thank you from UK ☺️

[@seaninherts]

Hi Mike - thank you for your video and videos. irately, I hugely welcome you encouraging people to meet a qualified O&M if possible. While many may understandably ask about O&M via KZbin compared with in person training, I’ll note that I travelled to Greece (from the UK) for the European Guide Dog Federation conference 2022 in Athens. It choked me up HUGELY when Lara guide dog school said they were planning to campaign for free O&M training for blind and low vision folk. In the UK, as with the US and Canada, we take this for granted almost. There are people where O&M isn’t possible and certainly isn’t free and your videos may make that very real difference. I’m a long cane user - in fact I’m a full time long cane user. I’m blind and my guide dog retired 29 days ago (not that I’m counting) and so I’ve been dealing with navigating the world exclusively with my long cane, dealing with theory’s of central London, sensory overload and the emotional impacts of being without a fugide dog for the first time since 1 August 1999. Roman Keatingn was in the charts at number 1 with when you say nothing at all when I last did not have a guide dog. As a result, of being without a guide dog, I’ve been practicing more than I’d like. The constant contact (sliding back and fourth in step) method is one I’ve always favoured. Interestingly though, while I did used to use tap and slide and two point touch in some circumstances, before, I’ve discovered, with my O&Ms that two point touch helps me maintain better straight line travel and maximise sound shadows. I have to change technique depending of surface and surroundings, of course but it can’ be delight that when steps are involved, or faint surface changes, constant contact is the way to go. Currently using the no jab cane. I think they’re great. Brilliant for the most harsh surfaces. I’ve used it in Greece and Romania so far as well as the UK. They are brilliant for countries where surfaces are bluntly pretty horrific. There is a difference in sensation in my view, but my belly thanks the spring mechanism daily and I’ve found I’ve been detecting very well now I’m used to it. Others experience may vary of course. Recently, I’ve had about 35 hours refresher training from O&Ms from Guide Dogs in the UK. My initial log cane training was 26 years previously with social services. I was ok before but now not so irrational. I’m slower than in younger years (39 btw so not old yet) but so much safer. You O&Ms are wizards and your content is deeply appreciated. Some ramblings from a random content consumer in the UK. Thank you.

[@tadghcr2175]

Thank you for all your videos. I've been watching your channel since my ophthalmologist asked if I think I might need more help than just new glasses, and I genuinely didn't know. Your tip on curbs being a problem as a possible indicator to meet with an O&M specialist is very good. (I've had problems with them since at least October, even before a steep vision decline this year.) I think I'll tell him at my appointment later this month it's something I want to look into. Thank you again so much!

[@feliciaecheverria]

Thank you, you have truly been a blessing. I just picked up my iPad today.

[@SubiyantoYanto]

Nice. Inspiring. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤️🙏

[@JohnCrawfordSchoolOfMusic]

I still have some functional vision and I find that my biggest challenge is avoiding drop offs. For this reason, I really prefer the constant contact technique. I always feel a little insecure using two point touch. The only time I used two point touch much of the time is when I am in rough terrain like grass we’re constant contact is not terribly practical.