A cane is one of many tools used by the blind. They come in a variety of styles due to the likes and dislikes of every blind individual. They are important to the community I am a part of because they provide others and I with a basic means of getting around in unfamiliar territory. Apart from warning a blind individual of impending obstacles, a cane also acts as a warning to those around them.
Having their cane with them not only allows the blind community to detect objects in their paths, but showing one’s cane, on the part of the blind, can become an act of courtesy. I learned this regrettably through experience. Before I was able to accept my blindness as a part of who I was, I refused to take it anywhere. As a result of this, I ended up walking into an elderly gentleman while my mother and I were shopping. The man not only yelled at me for being a stupid teenager, but he also said some hurtful things to my mom. This experience taught me that not making my blindness known to those around me could also harm those I came into contact with.
Since then, I’ve come to appreciate the safety having a cane provides. I recently attended an independence facility in Salt Lake City. I was given an instructor to help me truly learn what a cane was for. Through my travel lesson experiences, I learned how much freedom being able to use a cane for daily travel gives a blind individual. Sure, they’re restricted to on foot and public transportation, but this gives the blind the opportunity to get out on their own and relieve some of the stress on the shoulders of friends and loved ones.
But how much a cane relays back to its owner isn’t dependent on skill alone, they must also be made out of the proper materials. Since canes are smacked against the ground constantly, they have been designed to be as light as possible while still maintaining a modicum of durability. Most canes however, have been constructed using: heavy metals, fiberglass, rubber, plastic, along with graphite, though graphite canes are a fairly new development. Along with the different materials canes are made of, the model of cane also contributes to its proper way of use.
There are three categories of canes: rigid, collapsible, and telescoping. Of the three, the rigid and telescoping canes are most alike. While one can be stored comfortably in a bag or case, this still doesn't change the fact that they both use replaceable tips. Such tips have to be replaced every couple months. The rapid ware of metal cane tips is why some blind individuals prefer the collapsible cane. This type of cane may be heavier, but collapsible canes have large plastic tips that can endure for years.
Over the years, I’ve learned that every category of cane suits the need of a different blind individual. Once the right combination of cane and user is found, the cane owner must do all that is within their power to prevent their cane from being destroyed. A cane doesn’t do a blind person any good when it snaps from reckless behavior in the middle of a city block, especially if the cane gets jabbed into their stomach as a result.
Out of all the things I’ve said about canes, I’d have to say that their most important function is helping the blind to detect the obstacles around them. Having a cane really comes in handy when I am deep in thought, as well as when I go window shopping at the Gateway mall in Salt Lake.
