The White Cane Dilemma: To Use or Not to Use?

[@unstpblejojo]

Definitely not an asshole. Just making life harder on yourself. I’ve been a cane user for 22 years. I’ve never let my DeafBlindness phase me

[@abdullahak2204]

Keep going !!!

[@seethroughpod]

You're not wrong!

[@kimhollenbeck1308]

@@unstpblejojo hi unstable,I am a white cane user as well,I have been legally blind with limited vision since the age of 3 and I have rop due to me being born three months premature 59 years ago.I have been using a white cane since the age of 19 with an o&m instructor off and on again whenever I move to a new area.I just found out on dec.3rd that I have some hearing loss in my ears after being tested by an audiologist hearing clinic and I have to wear in the ear hearing aides starting on Dec.20th.How do you deal with your hearing loss and low vision loss and using your white cane?I am new to going through hearing loss and soon I will be wearing my new hearing aides.My senior mom and my third oldest sister also have eating loss and they use hearing aides and they have problems with their hearing aides.

[@noorarahman1598]

You are totally right ! Thanks .. I'm going to learn and use a white cane soon. Will share your video with other Malaysian RP members ❤❤

[@seethroughpod]

I really appreciate you commenting and sharing!

[@JoshBoykinCyreal]

Another great video, Lance! I learned how to use a cane back during middle school and high school with my orientation and mobility instructor. As a kid, I had such an aversion to using the cane and I only used it during those lessons. I realized that I made my own life harder as a result since I relied on my usable sight, and I always tried to explain myself when I made a mistake, bumped into something, or couldn't see something that should be obvious to most other people. having the white cane is a form of safety and communication. I've also come to the idea that using a white cane puts the responsibility off of the cane user. You don't have to constantly explain your eyesight to strangers. With the cane, everyone knows you have a vision problem and now it's on them to act accordingly and give the cane user respect and understanding. I still don't use my cane full-time, but I use it in airports and doctor's offices. Little by little, I'm getting more comfortable with using it, and I may eventually start using my white cane the majority of the time some day soon.

[@seethroughpod]

💯

[@BlindBabeBeth]

Vision loss IS super weird. We took our puppies for a walk up the street yesterday, and I saw a man coming around the corner and thought okay, cool, pedestrian. Our pup Leo stopped like he was scared and I bent down the comfort him, and then BAM there's this big poodle sniffing my face... It's wild that I completely missed this bloke walking his dog. We laughed it off, but also, it got me thinking like...what if the man's dog wasn't friendly? I could've put myself in a bad situation. And also, how can I keep our puppies safe if I can't see other dogs/potential danger? Probably a lot of worrying and catastrophizing, but yeah. Still struggling with my white cane and using it at work. But I need to. And like other commenters have said, it takes the burden off of us having to explain our clumsiness etc and puts it on other people to figure out we need more space/time etc. 🧡🧡 Edit to add: aw, Lance. I'm sorry to hear about the fishermen being dicks.

[@kimhollenbeck1308]

@@BlindBabeBeth Hi,what is it like to have a guide dog?Have you and your guide dog ever been rejected from going in a taxi or a restaurant?I am legally blind adult with limited vision and I use a white cane and now at 59 I just found out that I have hearing loss in my ears and on dec.20th I have to wear hearing aides.I am now acquiring about getting a service dog at a certified guide dog school here in my city but no phone call yet from Aspen guide dogs yet,maybe next week somebody from there will phone me soon.I have heard of other adults that are blind and legally blind that have guide dogs and sometimes they get refused from getting into taxi cabs and some restaurants so I am nervous about what to do in those situations when there is a refusal by taxi drivers or at restaurants.I wonder why this happens to guide dog users or clients when this happens to them.Can the taxi company or owners of restaurants be sued by the cnib clients with service guide dogs that are refused entry into them?

[@GIDDOFPL]

Top Video bro 👊🏻 Great overview of the dilemma really resonates 👨🏼‍🦯

[@seethroughpod]

RP GANGGG! 💪

[@ericbennardo9453]

Great video, Lance! I started using my cane about eight years ago when I started traveling by plane more often. Definitely a game changer in those and other scenarios. No more explaining.

[@seethroughpod]

Great point, and I respect that! Out of curiosity, do you select the "need assistance" box when you book a flight?

[@ericbennardo9453]

@@seethroughpod Yes I do

[@laurentbieche6757]

I can connect with every single point you raise in this video :-) I have been using a white cane on and off since two years now. Thank you for your videos! Greatly helping the community.

[@seethroughpod]

I appreciate the nice comment! The white cane is so simple yet so complex!

[@reaw.3344]

I hear ya! I have RP and it was exactly a year ago that I knew I needed help. I was really running into things more than normal and felt like I was in a pinball machine in crowds. I received cane and training 3 months later. Not only did it help but reminded people (especially people that know me) that I have an issue. Also experienced same thing tonight except it was with a friend. We were riding home after seeing Lion King Broadway after dark, I thought my friend was asking her mom a question since they were talking but she was asking me. Well, I can't see her to confirm that. You'll know when you need it or should use it. Just always keep it on hand

[@seethroughpod]

Feeling like a pinball machine in crowds is a great way to describe it. I'm gonna steal that one. Also, keeping the cane on hand is super practical. Do you keep with you in a backpack or do you use a holster?

[@reaw.3344]

Well, most of time I have a tote bag. You can call me the bag lady. I'm going to Leader Dog for the Blind next month for a week of extensive training. I'm finding that I get thrown off with different lightings and I'm not finding things like I used to. I'm a social butterfly so I need all the help I get. You can use the pinball machine scenario all you want. Thank you for all you share

[@Mari-oe8md]

Excellent video! Food for thought. I am visually impaired and was totally embarrassed to use a cane. Sometimes I do sometimes I don't. But one time when I didn't I misjudged a curb and fell, that not only hurt but it was embarrassing. So now I take it places where I'm not used to or don't know the terrain.

[@kimhollenbeck1308]

Hi mari,I am also legally blind adult with limited vision and I have been using a white cane with a roller ball cane tip since the 1980s .My very low vision loss is from me being born three months early 59 years ago,I have ongoing vision problems that stablized then cause me problems that my eye specialist Doctors have to treat me by prescription eye drops and surgery.

[@abdullahak2204]

​@@kimhollenbeck1308hi there I think you have ROP too like me!!! Since we are born premature the retinal are not developed and since mostly we get put in the incubator sometimes due to excess oxygen irregular blood vessel development occurs which might lead to retinal detachment and blindness so treatment with laser surgery and eye injections is necessary to save the vision

[@seethroughpod]

Thanks for sharing! I've had my share of embarrassing moments that caused physical pain, so I know how that goes. I feel like I've just become more hyper-vigilant about avoiding those moments, which isn't the best way to be.

[@kimhollenbeck1308]

@@abdullahak2204 Hi abdullahak,yes I was born three months premature in 1965 and I spend the first 4 months in the incubator,in and out of the hospital for many tests,operations etc.I get sick easily and I have rop as well.I didn't get cnib help at all during my 19 years in two schools,I got help from the cnib at 19 years old after I graduated from high school

[@katyaochoa]

Great video. I do think it's not all on you because there is an element where society should be better educated to know that not everyone uses a cane or a guide dog. I got cane training this year and only use my cane at night or in crowded situations. I've found though even with the cane people don't get and won't move. I also recommend an ID cane for situations where you don't need to identify objects around you but want people around you to be aware that you can't see. I mostly use this when traveling especially in an airport. I also like the sunflower Lanyard product as I have multiple medical conditions. I haven't gotten one yet but I plan to the next time I travel.

[@seethroughpod]

As always, thanks for watching! I do have an ID cane, but one problem that I have with the ID cane is that people are not as familiar with it. It's not as strong of a beacon as the classic white cane is. With that said, my mom used the ID cane when she visited me in NYC and people were quick to help her. You can also buy an ID cane that's longer so you can use it to judge stair and sidewalk depths.

[@JonahSniffen777]

Thanks for sharing another great video.

[@seethroughpod]

Thanks for kind words! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@pattypaul9749]

How do I use my cane with a shopping cart?

[@carrieannsharpe]

You pull it behind you

[@BlindBabeBeth]

OR how do we use a white cane while also carrying bags and coffee or hot food??

[@kimhollenbeck1308]

@@pattypaul9749 Hi Patti Paul,I am legally blind adult with limited vision and I use a white cane,I also use it while I go grocery shopping at Safeway and at Walmart,Sony's as well.I also fold it and put it in the grocery cart to do my shopping but I do bump into objects in the isle ways but I get it done with no injuries etc It is hard to control my cane and the cart at the same time.

[@pattypaul9749]

@@kimhollenbeck1308 that's how I do my shopping too. At Costco, where it's so busy, I bumped into a woman twice with my cart. SO embarrassing!

[@LauraMalvoyante]

This is so true. I need to use my cane more to avoid these situations 😅

[@seethroughpod]

Right? It takes a ton of courage to break out the cane, so I really respect that you use it.

[@jamiemason943]

How do we use a cane while pushing a shopping cart?

[@seethroughpod]

@@jamiemason943 just have it on you in case you need to bust it out or show it or you could just have it passively in one hand while you actively push with the other.

[@megandmauiguidingpaws]

I hope you start to process for you the reasons you don’t use the cane because I have several eye conditions including rp and I started off with cane after I walked right into a huge metal lamp post and I used the cane with varying degrees of confidence for a few years but for me I got a guide dog and my confidence and safety went up and there is less need to explain I just hope that you continue to move forward in your journey to acceptance

[@seethroughpod]

I’m definitely working towards eventual cane use and I’m on a mostly positive path of acceptance. This podcast keeps me grounded in a lot of ways, but I’m definitely not a vision loss expert. There’s a lot left for me to learn and process. I just try to share my thoughts as I travel forward on this strange journey.

[@abdullahak2204]

Really nice video!!! Hi I'm Abdullah from India and I have low vision (20/200) due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) I have enough vision to not use a cane and the rehabilitation center I go to at the eye hospital no Dr ever suggested a cane! Bro I think you should look into visually impaired tennis I know it's available in the US! I want to start playing too! They use a foam ball with ball bearings inside to make a sound you get 1,2,3 bounces depending on your vision.

[@seethroughpod]

Thank Abdullah! Visually impaired tennis sounds like a ton of fun! I'll definitely look into it.