If Blindness Comes: Who is Blind
Who is Blind?
by Kenneth Jernigan
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE Table of Contents
Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane: Instructions in Cane Travel for Blind People
by Thomas Bickford
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Author's Introduction
1. Getting Yourself Ready
Why Should I Use This Thing That Makes Me Look Blind?
Who Can Learn Cane Travel?
2. Getting the Cane Ready
How Long Should the Cane Be?
What Should the Cane Be Made Of?
How and Where Do You Hold the Cane?
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Sources of Canes
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Sources of Canes
In many cities there are organizations which sell white canes that you may
examine before you buy. The following nine organizations sell canes through
mail order catalogs. When you compare the catalogs, you will find that even
in this short list some of the equipment comes from common sources. Most of
these organizations sell a wide variety of items besides canes, but this booklet
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: BIBLIOGRAPHY
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Benson, Stephen. So What About Independent Travel. The Braille Monitor,
January, 1985, pp 30-40.
Blasch, B. B., Long, R. G., and Griffin, Shirley N. Results of a National Survey
of Electronic Travel Aid Use. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness,
November, 1989, v. 33, n 9, pp 449-453.
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Songs
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8. Songs
The White Cane Freedom March
by Thomas Bickford, Debbie Brown, Lloyd Rasmussen and Ken Silberman
To the Tune of: "As Those Caissons Go Rolling Along"
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Thoughts and Experiences on Cane Travel
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7. Thoughts and Experiences on Cane Travel
How Long Does It Take to Learn Cane Travel?
In order to answer this question, you must consider three major variable factors: 1.
your background; 2. your aptitude; and 3. the amount of time available.
I will give some numbers from my experience, but not until I expand on these factors.
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.
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Times and Places without the Usual Landmarks
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5. Times and Places without the Usual Landmarks
Grocery Stores
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Public Transportation
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4. Public Transportation
Riding Buses and Streetcars
Most trips involve walking at the beginning and end, or even in the middle, so that
many skills are used. You need to have the route, destination, and length of the trip in
mind before you start. While planning your trip, learn the name and/or number of the bus
you want. Buses for different routes may use the same or nearby stops, and you will need
to ask before boarding.
CARE AND FEEDING OF THE LONG WHITE CANE: Getting the Cane Ready
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2. Getting the Cane Ready
How Long Should the Cane Be?
I have slowly graduated from a cane that was 42 inches long to a cane that is over 60
inches long. I added a few inches every few years when I bought a new cane. I have not yet
had a cane that was too long. My chin-high cane is barely long enough for me, now. There
are blind people who use canes that reach their eyebrows.