CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane

CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane

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6. Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane

Wash, Feed, and Dress Your Cane

The washing part is obvious, but I am a poor one to tell you, since I don't do it often
enough, myself. Collapsible canes that are held together by an internal elastic cord need
watching. Keep track of the wear on the elastic cord, and be smart enough to replace it
the day before it breaks. Of course, it is better to be a month early than a day late.

Cane tips last me anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. I carry a spare tip with
me most of the time. A cane tip with a hole in it sounds different from a tip without the
hole, and that is the sign to carry a spare tip all the time. I have worn out or lost tips
unexpectedly. The unprotected end of any cane, especially fiberglass, is damaged quickly
when rubbed against concrete. Just wave the cane, and keep the tapping to a minimum.

Does your cane have reflective tape on it? If not, you could put some on it anywhere
along the stem. It is an investment in night-time safety. Reflective surfaces need to be
kept clean or replaced to maintain their reflective value.

If you associate with other blind people, as I do, you may want some unique mark on
your cane. I write my name in braille on Dymo tape and stick it on the bottom end of the
handle.

Where Does the Cane Go When Not in Use?

When answering this question, you discover the great advantage of the folding or
collapsible cane. Those styles can fit in a pocket, purse, on a lap, or under a chair very
easily.

There are two horizontal dimensions and one vertical dimension. Find some place out of
the way; lying on the floor under a chair or table, standing in a corner, or leaning
against a wall. Be sure that the cane is lying flat on the floor and not resting on
something that holds it an inch or two above the floor where it will be just high enough
to trip the unsuspecting passer-by. In some crowded areas "up" is the only way
left. When I am seated, I sometimes lean the cane from the floor to my shoulder, hooked
behind my heel.

Once in a restaurant, I lost the tip while retrieving the cane from a tiny place behind
the booth. I remember that incident, and sometimes I take the tip off before jamming the
cane into tight places. In air travel stick the cane in some out-of-the-way place, but do
not let the crew take it away from you. The regulations are now on our side.

Which Hand Do You Cane With?

The most obvious answer to this question is that you cane with your dominant hand. I am
right-handed, but I trade off when I carry a heavy object. There may be a landmark I want
to check on the other side. When I am walking with someone else, holding on or not, it may
be better to have the cane on the other side to stay away from feet or another cane. If
someone is holding my cane arm, it restricts the movement. I don't want that. I have had
enough practice with my left hand so that I am fully adequate, but I am still more
comfortable with the cane in the right hand. The question of which hand you use is a
matter of the convenience of the moment.
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Copyright National Federation of the Blind 1993