[Blindtlk] [nfb-talk] tips about canes

Wed Apr 23 15:05:19 CDT 2008

I use two different canes. Since I work at a grocery store and move from 
place to place it's easier to have my folding cane, however, for travel I 
use my straight cane.

Anjelina
"Nobody  can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] [nfb-talk] tips about canes

> Hi Jim,
>
> It does kind of depend on your circumstances, and there are pros and
> cons to both types of cane.
>
> I have a job where I find myself in a lot of meetings, and I also ride
> public transit daily.  Of course, in these situations you could lay a
> rigid cane down on the floor  under a table or along the front of a seat
> on a bus, in an attempt to keep it out of the way, but then you run the
> risk of someone stepping on it and possibly hurting themselves, or
> causing damage to the cane which is irreparable.  Let's face  it,
> sighted folks don't always watch what they are doing.
>
> A precaution one could use on a bus, is that you could sit, holding the
> rigid cane upright, but then you don't have hands free to do much else.
> I typically like to use this transit time to read, or make phone calls,
> or knit.  If I'm holding onto a cane, I don't have a free hand to do any
> of these things.
>
> A precaution one might take in a meeting is that you could stand a rigid
> cane up against a wall or in a corner, but then, depending on the layout
> of the room,  you don't have immediate access to it when it's time to
> move.
>
> I also like my canes long enough that it would be difficult to fit a
> rigid cane into the cars of most of the folks I occasionally ride with,
> or most any car for that matter.
>
> The down side to the telescoping canes however, is that you do run the
> risk of them folding up on you, which can be extremely exasperating,
> particularly if you are in a hurry, and I'm sure could be dangerous, if
> you are a really fast walker.  I am not a particularly fast walker by
> nature., which make sit even more frustrating when these canes fold up
> and I'm in a hurry. (smile)
>
> I'm afraid that just about the only thing you can do to eliminate all of
> these complications is to go to a heavier,non-telescoping folding cane
> Those can be stowed away when you need to stowed them, and they don't
> fold up until you are ready for them to fold.
>
> You also, don't have to replace these heavier canes nearly as  often.
> The fact is that, whether telescoping or rigid, one fast moving, clumsy
> person who isn't watching where they are going is all that it's going to
> take to render it useless.
>
> I don't know if this makes any sense or not, but I guess you just have
> to weigh all the pros and cons and decide what will work best for you.
> Because of all of my aforementioned considerations, and because the
> heavier canes tend to give my wrist a workout, and slow me down even
> more, my current choice is the carbon fiber telescoping cane.
>
>
> Diane Graves
> Civil Rights Specialist
> Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> 317-232-2647
>
> "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."--Winston
> Churchill
>
> Confidentiality Notice: This E-mail transmission may contain
> confidential and/or legally privileged information intended only for the
> individual or entity(ies)
> named in the E-mail address. If you are not the intended recipient, be
> advised that any unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution, or
> acting in reliance
> upon the contents of this E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have
> received this E-mail transmission in error, please reply to sender to
> arrange for the return and proper delivery of the transmission.
> Subsequently, delete the message from your system immediately.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces+dgraves=icrc.in.gov at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:blindtlk-bounces+dgraves=icrc.in.gov at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Jim
> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:44 AM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Cc: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] [nfb-talk] tips about canes
>
> Good morning,
>
> Perhaps I should also clarify something.  I whole-heartedly agree with
> the long rigid cane bit for good long fast walking.
> Lately though, I've found myself in a lot of different sized cars, many
> a crowd, and many a folk and bluegrass festival.  So, I was just using
> it as a matter of convenience for both myself and the people with whom I
> did these things.
> So, that's why I was asking these questions.
> Jim
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David" <davidb521 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 4:49 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] tips about canes
>
>
>>I also use a straight NFB cane.  However, I've noticed one
>> problem.  Suppose I'm in a food court at one of those small round
>> tables.  What are you supposed to do with your cane? I'm worried
>> that people will trip over it when it's just lying in the floor
>> like that.  Also, I have to be very careful when I put my cane
>> under a table or row of seats not to hit somebody.  But the
>> benefits of the NFB straight cane are far greater than the
>> disadvantages I think.
>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Brian Miller" <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>Date sent: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:31:32 -0400
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] tips about canes
>>
>>>Hi Jim,
>>
>>>I use a straight cane for all the issues you note below about
>> telescoping
>>>canes.  I keep a telescoping cane around as a spare.
>>
>>>Brian Miller
>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Jim" <jp100 at earthlink.net
>>>To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>;
>> <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>>>Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:37 AM
>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] tips about canes
>>
>>
>>>Howdy,
>>
>>>I have a question about canes and what you'd advise.
>>
>>>I believe this is the second (maybe even third) carbon fiber
>> telescopic cane
>>>where the following happens.  Either the bottom section breaks or
>> the screw
>>>for the cane tip comes off.  There are even times when the tip
>> just becomes
>>>something that feels loose or moves around; although, it is still
>> useable.
>>>Anyway, if that happens, and if I have spare bottom joints, I
>> replace them
>>>but end up needing to use something like a rainshine tip because
>> I am not
>>>sure what I can do with the screw for the regular tip.  I would
>> have thought
>>>that the rainshine tips would make those canes even lighter.
>> Well, what
>>>ends up happening is that a lot of times, the cane and sections
>> end up
>>>loosening up and wanting to collapse on me.  I am always finding
>> myself
>>>needing to tighten things up, and I don't know why.  When I first
>> buy one of
>>>these canes, I am fine with them and they work very well.
>>
>>>Any ideas of why this happens and what I can do about securing
>> the screw
>>>back in the bottom section to fit a regular tip?
>>
>>>Gee, so much for these canes being convenient, eh?  I'm a fast
>> walker but
>>>end up maybe feeling a bit less safe when I'm always having to
>> tighten the
>>>cane up because of these rainshine tips, and canes aren't cheap.
>>
>>>What do you guys think?
>>>Jim
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>>>nfb-talk:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk/brian-r-miller%40u
>> iowa.edu
>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for nfb-talk:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk/davidb521%40gmail.
>> com
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk/jp100%40earthlink.net
>>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindtlk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk/dgraves%40icrc.in.gov
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindtlk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk/cruz.anjelina%40mchsi.com 