Traveling blind: orientation & mobility

A great overview on cane travel for the blind and visually impaired. Includes an overview on canes and techniques for using them. This video was made possible by UATP, with many thanks to Utah's Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. You can find them here: jobs.utah.gov/...

[@teresahopemiller6560]

Full trust in my cane was at night about four years ago with the attending of a Bernie Sanders event it was at a park where I live. I had never been there before and the time of night was dusk . My eye is sensative to glare. I went to where I saw the people were gathering, and signs. My functioning vision is blurry. i had my cane and had to keep up with the crowd. I found out later it was 1300 people. The ground was uneven grass and the crowd was moderately fast . no one took my arm I kept up with everyone. I got to the ampitheater and sat down heard the speech and then it was completely dark . I had to rely on the sounds of the crowd and the feel of my cane going across the hilly grass. Finally finding bathrooms and then bus stops.A kind soul offered to help me find the bus stop going the right direction home. Happy holidays.

[@andyguiel6936]

Hi Jennifer, I want to thank you for this brilliant video. I've recently retired after working for 47 years as an instructor for Guide Dogs in the UK with the last 12 years raising public awareness of Guide Dogs and the larger issues of sight loss training and demonstrating our National Demonstration Dog. So when I came upon your video I watched it with interest as you clearly and fully discussed and demonstrated both the dangers in the environment and more importantly the ways you can use it along with your O & M skills to safely navigate your environment. I also liked the way you presented and demonstrated in a way that anyone with or without experience could better understand the whole topic. I'm sure that you constantly get comments like this but I wanted to add to those comments by saying a sincere thank you and "good on you". Yours Andy Guiel

[@thihal123]

Public universities are wonderful for providing these kinds of resources.

[@pagzplay]

I think the most important thing is to listen to the traffic go through a couple cycles on any kind of crosswalk. You will hear how long you have to get across if you listen to a couple cycles. And feeling for the crown to start going down means you are almost there and need to be finding the raised pavement or curb again. And I like what you said about waiting at an uncontrolled crossing until you don't hear the traffic in the distance because it means they are being made to stop and you have time to get across. And when you go in the door of a building you use your cane but you can feel the walls are close to you without touching them and know that many times there will be another set of doors next to hit with your cane and if you don't hit anything you are good to go. I think it is mostly just knowing how things are going to be set up and remembering it.

[@muayadaziz3937]

Hi Jennifer it is an interesting information about the orientation and mobility and how to use the white cane. I have learned a lot through this session. How the totally blind person crossing an uncontrol street safely and efficiently. On the other hand, I think the people with low vision they don't need to ware a sleep shade in order to learn the O&M lesson. Muayad Aziz.

[@muayadaziz3937]

I have noticed that you cross the street that doesn't have crossing lines . I am wondering, is this legal!?

[@thihal123]

This is informative. I’m sighted but this is great info.

[@harmonyln7]

I can only see light and shadows from one eye and nothing in the other eye, but find it easier to use that very minimal vision along with a cane. I agree that it's useful to have a number of canes for the same reasons. The UK doesn't have straight canes though, so people have to import them. I like the fact that the rolling ball tips go over uneven ground without getting stuck. I fold my current cane down when travelling on a bus because there's nothing worse than being smacked on the head by a stick! I really am not a fan of telescopic canes, because I walk so fast that the thing slid and collapsed on itself.

[@jacquelinesmith-jackson2815]

I thought your comment was pretty funny.

[@marlapalmer9846]

Jennifer Kennedy is currently one of 3 orientation and mobility instructors at the Utah Division of Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired (DSBVI). Excellent resource for those who want more information about how blind people travel independently. Includes a review of different canes, training styles and techniques.. You can find contact information for DSBVI at jobs.utah.gov/usor/dsbvi or facebook.com/utahblindcenter. 801-323-4343

[@welsi23albert28]

Thank you! I learned many technique!!

[@blainedeutscher2540]

As blind person I was wondering if you use were ambutech canes or is the grip the carbon fiber grip. In Canada they use the pencel tip quite a bit. I tried the open palm technique and with the golf grip it's harder to transfer between open palm and pencel. I agree that it's good to have different canes (folding to get down the airplane vs long white cane. The hardest thing I'd have trouble getting use to is putting the long white cane away in restaurants, cars, airplanes, sports stadiums, movie theatres... I like the light weight of the NFB cane vs the anbutech models. Your help would be great. Blaine

[@rosalinfeit5392]

Thank u I am rosalind feit I have low vision wow I learn alots now and I used walking cane white cane with red tips all time my best friends cool show

[@discsplatinum9912]

Do you train students to use the roller tip?

[@cprcomputer7688]

I have been unable to fet mobility training for my can they offer only if I'm gonna work

[@jacquelinesmith-jackson2815]

Hi I was born Visually Impaired and I can see lots of different things like people in their cars or people on bikes. Honestly I believe it's kind of scary being expected to cross the street.

[@gooeybrain4966]

Most excellent. In fact I have been going over blind videos on KZbin and this one is good, very good. There are hacks out there giving fake info. Stuff like colored canes? Thanks. I am total blind.

[@teresahopemiller6560]

HI , I am originally from Bountiful. i have ROP.RLF. Questions , Have you experienced riding the bus when a passenger grabs your cane mistaken for the poles that you grab to hold onto the bus. Seniors especailly. I understand the Murray B Allen center did a make over.. I went there 32 years ago. I wasn't a cane user then. I just got the new No jab cane , thanks to Sam with the Blind spot, Amazon.Oh getting back to people grabbing you cane on the bus one lady who did actually fell grabbing mine. I Prefer a the no jab , Revolution, and then one like yours for when we have the monsoon here in the SW. ( Lighting rod, ) I got my cane ten years ago due to a panic attack. I feel very territorial about mine. I have actually labeled mine with braille on the handle . and hang my house key on the strap. a small decoration to make it personable .I suffer from Anxiety and Major Depression. I am a online student studying Psychology. Don't you feel society abuses the concept of service animals? I was in Walmart and a clerk was chewing out a customer for having the dog in the inside of the shopping cart. Not a blind person.Cross contamination. EWW! Happy holidays! Give a hi to Lori P. She is about 59 years old.

[@leighroach4476]

My name is Leigh and I am legally blind in my left eye the pereferal vision is gone and I was wondering if I should get a cane to walk with

[@judyives1832]

Leigh Caddenhead Yes you should Leigh. That way you can keep your sight up and ahead and use the cane to sweep the area at your feet. This way you won’t have to choose between looking ahead or watching for ground obstacles. Plus it warns other people that you might not see them and they need to stay out of the way.

[@teresahopemiller6560]

I would like to learn more about ecolocation? How to keep the telescopic from collapsing? Is it disorienting to use a cane in the snow? Have you been approached by the " Jehovahs witnesses while sing the cane ' I find it very distracting . I found out that you can call the local church and let them know to put on your do not call list but I would like to get help with while walking.I have even been approached by them while trying toboard a bus. while using my cane.

[@jacquelinesmith-jackson2815]

I would probably be very scared and concerned when I am required to cross a street. Not all drivers devices to stop and they are not all friendly either.

[@nikayam1840]

I’m also more interesting to get my Masters degree from Louisiana Tech University as an orientation specialist

[@teresahopemiller6560]

Remind students to only use phone for GPS.