[Blindtlk] Question

[Marion & Martin]

Dear Lindsay,
    One of the things I find in my work with those who are blind and have a 
little eyesight is their negative attitudes about the white cane. The white 
cane is a symbol of blindness and, as such identifies a person as being 
blind. I would like to offer that, for these people, the issue is not with 
their cane but with their attitudes about blindness. Let me share a story 
about this to illustrate what I mean.
    One summer, when I was a college student I took some classes at a local 
community colege because they were not offered during the summer at the 
university. I met another student who was majoring in the same field and had 
the same eye condition as I (Retinitis pigmentosa). One day I asked him if 
he would like to join me for a special lecture on campus that I knew would 
be of interest to him. He was very interested and said he would like to join 
me. When I told him where it was, he replied that he did not go to that side 
of the campus because he was unfamiliar with the area and heard there were 
some steps there. I asked him if he had a wite cane and he told me he didn't 
use one! I asked him why not and he told me he "didn't want to look 
helpless". I then asked him which was more helpless, using a white cane and 
going where and doing what he wished or not doing something he really wanted 
to do because he didn't. He had no reply to me.
    Even though you know your high school campus "as well as you know your 
home", you are not in control of that environment, like you are in your 
home. Think about what might happen if, for instance, another student 
spilled something on the floor and the maintenance person mopped it up and 
put a "wet floor: sign in the area that isn't usually there. Without the use 
of your cane, you could trip over the sign and injure yourself and/or 
someone else.
    You admit that others know you are blind and they do not treat you 
differently as the result. They obviously realize that your blindness does 
not change the person you are. using a white cane allows you to travel more 
freely and competently without worrying about whether someone else has put 
obstacles in the way. many people who do not use a white cane are more 
ehesitant and appear less competent than those who use a white cane. In my 
opinion, I would like to appear as a confident, competent blind person who 
uses a white cane than a helpless individual who does not.
    I know many blind people who refuse to use a white cane because they say 
they don't need it. I have seen those people fall into holes, trip on curbs 
and fall down stairs because they did not see the obstacle. They still 
maintain they do not need a white cane. I was one of those people!
    When I began using a white cane, I was teaching at a school for gifted 
children. The Headmaster asked me to put the cane away while i was in the 
classroom because he did not want the parents to know that i was blind. 
"What would they think?" he asked. I replied, "They would think I was a 
competent blind teacher," was my reply.
    No one seems to care that you are blind. Don't be ashamed of it, either. 
Use the tools that competent, independent blind people use and show the 
world that is what you are. Helpless, dependent blind people don't need a 
white cane - independent, competent, self-determined blind people do!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "lindsay" <lindsay777 at charter.net>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 7:26 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Question


>I had a question about the cane.  I'm fine with using the cane at
> school, but sometimes I don't need it.  I feel like I know the
> school practically as well as my house.  I can see somewhat.
> Light, darkness, shagows, colors, and things like that.
> Everything kind of looks like a big blob.  I can only tell
> sometimes what things are.  I'm right in the middle, I can see
> more than light, but not enough to read large print.  It's kind
> of frustrating because I go to a public school.  I'm the only one
> who uses a cane.  But if I didn't go to a public school, I would
> probably never see my family.  I don't mind reading Braille.
> Although it WOULD be more convenient if I could read print.  It's
> just my cane!  It makes me stick out.  I don't want to always be
> dependent on my parents, but I don't like everyone knowing I
> can't see very well.  Sure, it has its advantages, but for the
> most part it can be very frustrating.  Please help me to know
> what to think about my cane.  Teachers and kids treat me the same
> for the most part, I just really hate my cane.
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk