Yesss, I always love to see ID and guide canes getting acknowledged, especially as a guide cane user. You're exactly spot on with it too; the reason I went with a guide cane over just an ID one is because of stairs and curbs. Now I can just use my cane instead of doing the whole "gingerly put foot out and tap a few times to be sure the ground is where I think it is" routine.
The light up, folding cane is goals, honestly. My RP would greatly appreciate a cane with a small torch built in! Love this video, just a wealth of useful information.
Thanks for this great guide! Had lifetime vision loss (substantially more since April 2024). Am re-introducing myself to the world of white canes and the like. Much appreciate having access to your wisdom and guidance!
Sam, in your most recent q&a vid you were talking about blind call outs to find one another in public. I have a few cane using friends and they all bang the tips lo:loudly on the floor to identify where the others are in public spaces. Cane tips on the ground are a unmistakeable. It began with one friend who has a blind daughter and they began doing this when the girl was little as a means of keeping track of one another. The rest of us just latched on.
Being registered partially blind in the UK, I use a symbol cane everywhere I go. I’ve become more and more reliant on my cane because of the increased used of eScooters. People who use them, do not generally comply with the road safety rules for using them, and are riding them on padestrian walkways etc. I always rely on traffic crossing but unfortuantely, eScooter users, and even some cyclists, do not stop when I am crossing. My cane is the only means for me to convey my circumstances. Anyway, many thanks for the video, it was extremely informative.
"It's not a STICK!!" Haha. Just watched your video on what not to do when you meet with a blind person. I should re-watch this video and count how many times you use the word cane! Glad I came across your channel, sir, it's just right. Not overly sensitive like a new employee at a retail store and not an overflowing attitude of "I don't give a F." Great job!
Thanks Sam, very helpful and informative. I'm just now getting to the point where I have come to terms with needing to use an ID cane for my safety. Going on walks with my dog (non guide dog) in the community has become difficult. i have faced abuse from people on bikes and scooters when I dont see them till last moment. Additionally have faced abuse from young people which has started to give me anxiety about getting out and about. I just placed an order for ID cane thanks to your video and I truly hope it helps.
As a new cane user, I feel like I'm not blind enough to use a cane since I never used one before. Now as an adult, I feel like I need one because I'm having trouble seeing things even with glasses. I still feel guilty having a cane.
You’re definitely not the only one. Most of us feel like we either aren’t blind enough to use the cane or feel like we need to act more blind to justify using the cane. Both of which are true.
I've been using a cane for years. Recently, I made one from a 2-piece pool cue. It worked so well, I made two more. They cut easily to length and can support your weight, if needed. I marked one as an ID cane. The other two are more formal for use on stage.
Ah, good old canes. My graphite ambutech cane went missing after my last vacation and I've yet to replace it, using my old rigid NFB cane in the meantime. I'm just not a fan of the NFB canes, and I hated how mobility teachers, especially when I was an older teen/young adult, kept pushing them on me and not letting me use anything else. I prefer the folding cane like I grew up with. I tried the NFB folding version, but it honestly sucked. The joints wore away within a year and a half of VERY light use. Anyway, I went out today with family and, as I do have some vision, I just left my cane behind because we were just going out to eat and I didn't want to store the rigid thing in the restaurant. I felt completely wrongfooted without it and, as vacation is coming around again soon, got right to ordering a new folding cane this evening! At least I can customize the colors now! I kept the main shaft classic white, but made the highlights (handle and joints I think) blue, as well as the lower shaft which is traditionally red. I also got the ceramic tip, which I LOVE and will not go without now!
I ordered mine in blue too! Mine should be shipping to me next week. I too got an NFB cane even though I wanted a foldable one too. I figured it is a free resource that I need/ I can at least practice with it until I could save up to get my foldable one. Luckily, my grandma gave me some money that I'm using for medical expenses so I ordered my 1st Ambutech foldable blue cane as well!! I'm so excited to get it, we have a vacation coming up so it will be nice to fold it away in my luggage for easy access.
@@deadsetondreams1988 Well, mine's still holding up great! I hope you like yours. I'd also highly recommend the ceramic tip if you can get it. It's my favorite of any tip I've tried over the years, though your milage may vary. I did find that older folding cane I'd lost ... and subsequently misplaced it again, haha! It's always good to have a spare so I do still have an NFB straight cane that is mostly used for ... knocking things I drop out from under tables or the bed, honestly. If you want a spare that's not an NFB cane, I think maybe an Ambutech slimline folding cane is a good choice. I've never had one, but they look good as backup. I'll probably get one myself at some point.
Great video Sam! What you said at the end is so true. If you think you're ready for a cane, you are. I started using a cane earlier this year and I have been blown away by how empowered it makes me feel. Using a cane has given me back so much independence. Not to mention how much easier it makes life when I am in a crowded place. People are so much more understanding if I happen to bump into them by accident when they see my cane, as oppsed to me trying to navigate through a crowd without it and bumping into people, they just think I'm rude. I have tried several canes and the one I prefer is the No Jab paired with the Omni Sense tip, which I love.
@@theblindlife Hi Sam, my name is Luis Urbieta and I know that this video was filmed in 2021, and I was have a question. I have 2 Ambutec canes and I want to know are they durable? On 1 cane, the sting does not stay and the older cane the string is all right except to fold it the string doesn't stay how do I go about fixing them?
I know this is a year-old comment but yes, empowered is exactly the word. I've used a cane since I was about four, and (low but stable vision) if I leave the house without one I feel SO wrong-footed and have to go sighted guide which just feels awkward. Hope you're well and having grand adventures with your cane!👍
@SeaMarie That is exactly how I feel without my cane. So if you don't mind me asking, what type of eye condition do you have? I have Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and it is a progressive eye disease. I pretty "good" vision until I was about 24ish and by that time it had progressed to the point that I had very little periferal vision. At this point I have about a 5 percent field of vision. I can't see much detail in that field of vision however. Thanks for the comment.
Sponsors for Sam! Congratulations! You sir have arrived. :-) Thanks for being a great resource in our age of video for so long and I'm glad to see all of the consistency paying off.
Oh yeah, that’s right! I totally knew that and should have mentioned it in the video. Maybe this comment will find its way into Septembers talk back with the blind life video!
thank you so much for sharing! im designing a visually impaired character right now and this was super helpful in giving me some good information. it's also just good for me to know in general, i think so i can better understand the experiences of others!
Just found your channel and i love it i am a 40 year old male with degenerated nystagmus with cataracts and a touch of light sensitivity. one of the things i am good at is tech accessibility software hardware etc ...
VERY informative. Waiting for cataract surgery. The lit cane seems to strike a cord with me. Thanks for the information, we appreciate all your efforts. I continue to learn a lot.
Thank you very much Sam for doing this video it definitely will help me decide on which cane would be best for me as I am low vision with sight in my right eye only and that seems to be diminishing and getting blurry in the past year and a half so this information will definitely help me thanks again
Hi, Sam... I have an ID cane that was given to me by my ex roommate. Since I have limited mobility, I use a rolling walker instead of a cane, with ID tape down the front legs. It's A lot more stable for me than a cane would be.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you so much! I'm learning about personalising canes for individual clients, as I do walking sticks and I've had people enquire. If anyone has anything they think a designer working with canes for VI should know, please reply!
I’m currently doing research for writing a blind character in a story, and your channel has been super helpful! I was wondering what kind of cane would a high schooler use to navigate in hallways?
Warning: extreme bias follows. I vote Straight nfb cane. It's the one with the foam type handle he showed. It has a metal disk attached to rubber slip on tip, known as metal glide in the variety cane world. It can have a black foam handle or this plasticky rubber handle, which comes on the carbon fiber version. The shaft is long, white, and tapered. It is extremely light. It makes a tap tap sound when used with a technique called two point touch. You could use this as a point of imagery in your story. More importantly, with a straight cane, it is impossible to hide one's blindness. Bias ends ish here: You have some questions to answer. You should do some research on the blindness organizations. NFB in particular has some strong views, that if your character were raised with NFB, it would show. I find that members of the NFB tend to use NFB canes at a higher incidence than the generally blind population, which seems to prefer ambutech. Ambutech canes most commonly fold up. They are also much heavier, so you get a thing where someone has a cane / tip configuration that they can only use constant contact with. They are also generally what an Orientation & Mobility (O&M) instructor (which is the person who teaches a blind person how to use their cane along with other travel and safety techniques), issue to the new student. {bias...} Many people are happy with their ambutech canes, but I find them much to heavy. Also, ambutech users generally have at least one folding cane, and this one is often their daily driver. I can't valch for this, but the NFB advocates against a folding cane for a beginner, especially if they have remaining vision, as the new cane user may be tempted to hide it away to appear "normal". This ranges from impeding their learning of cane technique, to being genuinely dangerous. {sorta end bias} So your character could also use an ambutech cane. Ambutech and NFB/Chris Park are the main contenders. There is also revolution canes, rainshine canes, D canes, and probably more I don't know about. If your character has any choice in the matter, their cane should somewhat match their personality and aditude towards their blindness. If they are blind and proud of it, perhaps they use a straight cane for daily use, with a foldy for special occasions. Even then, a proud blindy can absolutely have a foldy cane. If they walk fast / hurry hurry person, they'll probably have a longer cane. Also, with canes your meant to have long, such as NFB canes and some of the other brands, the more advanced cane user will also tend to have a longer cane. If your character likes style, perhaps they have an ambutech cane, which come in fun colors. If they're outdoorsy, perhaps they have a few different types of tips (ambutech only) they keep on hand for varied terrain. If your character is ultraprepared for anything, perhaps they have their daily driver, but they also keep a spare cane in their pocket/bag and at least one spare tip. The above section was if they have any choice in the matter. Blind children who aren't presented with options will just adapt to what they've been given. They'll often grow to prefer what they've been given, given enough time. They might not question why they use a particular type of cane rather than another one if they've never seen/experienced any other options. I know this has been very long, and I'm sorry for that, but I'm glad you're doing your research. Representing a disabled character accurately, or any character really, requires curiosity, sensativity, and a lack of assumption's / preconceived notions. I have limited experience with canes, as I was raised on NFB canes (apparently of my own free will since I chose an NFB cane over other canes when I first started learning). The other stuff I wrote is from my and my family's observations of other blind people, talking to blind people, watching blind creator's content, etc. Take with a cane of salt. Thank you for your time. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
@@Clostridiumbotulinum37 Ok ... that's a WAY better response than the one I was going to write! You thought of everything and more! I fall on the other side of the bias; I am just not a huge fan of the NFB cane and hated mobility teachers in my later high school years foisting it on me. However, I can see the draw. I wish, as you suggested, mobility teachers would make blind kids more aware of the choices available, though I think Ambutech WAS just about the only choice when I was a kid learning two-point touch in the 90s/early 0s. Growing up, Ambutech canes are what I was trained on until high school, so they're my go-to. I do have an NFB rigid as a backup, though! Your statement that cane preference is somewhat linked to NFB membership makes some sense, as I've never been really active with them aside from some stuff as a teenager.
Also, I'd add that it wouldn't hurt to research cane techniques. You mentioned a high-schooler in a crowded hallway, so choking up on the grip for the pencil grip technique used for crowds is good to note. It's a way to hold the cane so less of it is in front of you, but you can still probe ahead. There's also a brand of canes called Europa I found on Maxiaids. If you want an idea of the kind of stuff blind people use, I recommend you check that sight out. Some of it might seem a little dated, like they sell talking alarm clocks when many people check their phones these days (at least I do) or have a smart speaker (me again). Still, they're something plenty of blind kids grow up having, if not a talking clock than certainly a talking or Braille watch. Also, what era is this in? If modern, or even within the last few decades, try to research what kinds of assistive tech a blind kid might use in school. If modern, a blind kid is just as likely to have a cell, social media, and whatever as a sighted kid. I'm typing this comment on my iPhone with Braille Screen Input, which is just typing in Braille on the touch screen.
Oh my gosh thank you guys for the info! I’ve been wanting to talk to real people about this for so long, rather than Google just giving me “how to enroll your blind kid in elementary school.” I hope it’s alright if I ask a few more questions. Are there any habits/little characteristics that come with cane using? Also how does test taking and homework assignments work? I imagine the story takes place in modern day, but in a very dilapidated reagion, so the tech will probably be outdated. Thank you again!
@@starfishstudioart8311 Ok, so… I graduated high school in 2009, but from a school for the blind rather than a public high school but I’ll answer the best I can. I’d imagine that, at worst, the student would be using a Perkins Braille writer to do assignments out of class, which would then be transcribed into print by somebody else. They couldn’t use it in class, though, because those things are LOUD and couldn’t be hauled around from class to class, as the metal ones weigh about 8 pounds and they only started doing more plastic-based ones in the last ten years or so. For class notes in this situation, they might need somebody else to write and then read them out later, or use a tape or digital recorder. Hopefully, though, they’d have a laptop or something they could take notes and do assignments on that could be printed out. The fight to get what blind students need from public schools is real, particularly in bad/unwilling districts, which is why I went to blind school in the first place… despite being in a large (and I assume wealthy enough) district in Washington state with few blind kids. Is your character totally blind, or partially? If partially, I imagine that even getting them teaching/materials in Braille could be a struggle. Fortunately, I was just blind enough I don’t think anyone tried to make me learn with large print, but I’ve heard of that issue in others. I am print literate, though. However, some partially blind people really do do just fine learning from large print. Also, when your character went blind could contribute a lot towards their attitude about blindness. I was born partially blind, so it’s always been my normal and it wasn’t something I was ever particularly ashamed/embarrassed of in high school. However, I could see somebody who recently went blind or who is progressively losing their sight as different in their attitude about it all. I’ve not been there, so I can only speculate such a youth might want to deny/deflect/whatever. Sorry, I kind of got off topic. If totally or even partially blind, they’d read Braille. Braille textbooks are HUGE, taking up several volumes. That’s what I used in high school, and I’d still strongly encourage Braille use/literacy at that level. However, I can see some schools trying to cheap out by using all audio materials or the student needing to get other students/friends to read out relevant sections from the print textbooks/assignments. I transitioned to ebooks in college and have felt a pang of regret that I don’t read NEARLY as much Braille as I used to… Cane habits… hmm… Well, I tended to just kind of twirl around the elastic band at the top of mine when I was standing bored, and certainly enjoyed the satisfaction of letting it unfold, but there’s not much more I can think of. Oh, I almost forgot something very important! If the school’s a bit behind the times, a Braille notetaker would very likely be something the student uses to write up notes and assignments. I personally don’t see the need for those anymore, as I’d rather use my iPad and a Braille display instead, but do look up things like the BrailleNote from Humanware as reference. If the student is a bit poor themself, I imagine the school dusting off an old MPower or Apex from la previous student attending like 10 years ago if it still works. However, Braille notetakers do NOT come cheap, costing around $5,0000, depending on Braille display size. Dedicated Braille displays without the primary function as notetaker are a bit cheaper, from around $1,200 to $2,500 roughly. My Braille display was paid for by the state when I was in my last semester of college, and was on the higher end of that. Don’t mistake me, working with the state to get stuff funded can be like pulling teeth. Also, for getting assignments, I would assume that perhaps your school is a bit out of date and doesn’t use things like Blackboard or Canvas, so it would be up to a vision aid to make assignments accessible, I assume. I’m sorry if this was a bit disjointed and unhelpful. It’s more like a stream of consciousness/word vomit reply. I’m not exactly known for being concise. I only went to public school in the mid to late 90s and early 2000s, so a lot has changed and I’m just trying to pull out what I remember of school and trying to mash it together with a modern but rather out-of-date setting. Best of luck with the book! Fell free to ask more questions!
I'm in the infant stage of learning to use a cane. Your video was very informative for me. Now I know what kinds of questions to ask my O&M instructor. I'm curious...you mentioned the last cane (for support?) but didn't elaborate on it. Did you do a separate video about that cane?
The bungee cord on my mobility cane broke and subsequently my cane fell apart as I was about to exit a plane recently. Fortunately, a very kind flight attendant offered me her elbow to escort me to the top of the jet way. Hmm 🤔 maybe my cane should break more often😎
Hello Sam, I’m relatively new to this but I’m very interested in the telescopic cane because I do a lot of traveling and it would make it easier to pet I’m legally blind so I have site and can manage pretty well
The telescoping cane is nice, but the one I had did loosen over time quite a bit, where it would start sliding around and shortening on walks. I personally recommend the folding cane. It folds compactly enough and some manufacturers, like Ambutech, even sell little holsters/pouches for you to stash it in when it's not in use that can clip to your belt or bag or whatever. I know this comment is about 10 months late, but still wish you best of luck!
I like a one inch diameter wooden cane with a crook handle. I does a good job stopping cars when held out in front of me. I am also starting out using a one inch diameter, four foot dowel cane with a roller ball tip.
I suspect that I will be needing one of these soon (on a hospital waiting list). Thanks for the information on what is available in the US. I just know that if I want anything with a bigger grip (my hands have gripping issues), I will have to get a 'special order' from overseas as the range of assistive items is very small here (NZ).
I just ordered my first colored cane from Ambutech, and am pretty excited! I traded out the red lower shaft and black highlight colors for blue, hoping it works out! I kept the rest white for ID purposes though!
Thanks for this video which was very informative. I see that Ambutech sells customized canes in different colors. Wondering whether these are as easily and as well recognized by the public as mobility canes as the white ones are. Do you have any experience with these?
Thanks Sam so much. I didn’t know there was a difference in guide and mobility cane. As I am low vision, I was given a mobility cane at my training and rarely use it because it so heavy and big. I think a guide cane would be a much better fit for me because of it being lighter and smaller. Hopefully will help me with curbs, holes, inclines, etc. Would like to also avoid the ugly stares when I walk in front of people by accident if they come up on my right side which is totally blind. Where is the best website to get a high quality guide cane? And what is your recommendation for a tip?
Ambutech sales guy canes here in the states. They are part of their slim cane line. As far as tips, I don’t think you have many options with the slim/guide cane. Check out the website and see what they offer.
Check out the NFB canes. They are very sturdy and very light. They offer rigid, telescoping, and folding. The only possible downside is that the NFB canes only come with the metal glide tip. I am a COMS (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist).
@@apiecemaker1163 no problem. I would also add that cane tips are very much like shoes. We have different shoes for different occasions. For example, you probably wouldn't wear dress shoes to go hiking and also probably wouldn't wear flip flips to attend a fancy dinner. Each tip has it's pro's and cons. I would recommend getting in contact with a training center in your state to see what services are available and hopefully get set up with a COMS who work with you to determine what the best style of cane and tips are for your travel level and environment. Often times if the center is a blind vocational rehab center the services are free to the consumer.
I am looking to purchase a new white cane, Christmas 2023 - what do you think is the best overall white cane, or modern white cane? I know you linked one a while back in a gaming video I was watching, but I can’t seem to find it again.
Great video! I have a quick question about folding canes. When you unfold the cane and put it together, does it wiggle a little at the joints or is it pretty tight? Is that typical of folding canes? I have a folding cane and the joints wiggle which is kind of distracting. Thanks!
I have RP Retinitis Pigmentosa. I see fairly in daylight and within my central vision, but lack night vision and peripherals. I like simplicity and minimalism and dislike using any accessories. But my doctor advised me that I SHOULD use my white cane more often, because even though I can navigate fine in familiar areas, I often miss people and things from my lack of peripherals and get upset when I bump into others or others bump into me. I feel pissed off and expect others to yield to me, but others can't know I'm visually impaired if I don't identify myself and show them some signs right?
I have RP. Start using it now for practice. I had stopped driving but could still see fairly well,. I felt awkward. Now, things have progressed to a point whereI'm glad I did.
What about going through TSA? I'm getting ready to go on my first flying trip since I started using my cane and then there was covid that kept me home, too.
@Nathaniel Caudill I'm sorry I wasn't clear, I didn't travel because of the pandemic. This is my first flight since before the pandemic. My nephew is getting married and I'll be flying alone. I was just curious since it's my first flight dealing with a cane, if there was anything I needed to be prepared for.
I always fly with my cane. TSA is usually quite helpful with visually impaired travelers. 99% of the time someone from TSA comes and gets me to skip the line unless the line is quite short. You don’t need to do anything specific because of the cane. I have mine go through the the X-ray machine and have someone guide me where they want to screen me (usually the same place as everyone else but they will assist if I can’t deduce where they need me.) If you are totally blind you can tell them that and they can assist as much as you need.
I know what you mean. I am usually with my vision assist dog or “seeing-eye-wife”. It can be a bit unnerving at first. Ironically, airports are one of the most blind friendly places since there will always be an airline or airport employee that will assist disabled travelers as needed. You can ask any airline employee to make a note in their system that you are visually impaired and they will even have someone meet you at your gate and bring you to the next gate or baggage claim if you are more comfortable with that. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your travels.
Katrina, lots of great information here, thank you to the other commenters! I made a video titled independent travel for the visually impaired which you may find helpful. In that video I go over several tips and tricks for traveling. Most of which was talking about airports. As the others have already said, don’t be shy and don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed.. Also request to pre-board the airplane, very nice to get on there and get situated before everyone else gets on.
Anything can be used for self defense with the right training and skills, but you would definitely want to have one of the sturdier types of cane if you think you might need it for that purpose.
I'm having cataract and a cornea transplant surgery next month. I'm legally blind in the other eye, so I'm concerned about getting around in unfamiliar places. I have practiced at home using only my bad eye and have done well. However, would it be OK to use a white cane to help with curbs and cracks going to my doctor's appointments? Hopefully, I'll be able to see after several days. Thanks in advance.
Absolutely! The cane is a tool to be used whenever you need it. As long as you’re not abusing it, or faking a vision impairment in order to get government assistance, you are allowed to use the cane if you need it.
@@theblindlife Thank you so much! I think that I'm going to buy a trekking stick. I still have not decided. They moved my surgery up, so I need to decide.
Where do I find a folding guide cane?!?!? I have enough vision to not need a long white cane, but the department for the blind in my state never even told me there were other options! A folding guide cane would be perfect for my level of vision! And it wouldn’t be a nuisance like the straight cane they gave me since it is as tall as I am😅
Do only completely blind people use a white cane, or is it appropriate, necessary and effective for visually impaired people with some vision loss to use a white cane as well?
from what i understand it depends on area and what it is used for, for instance in some states in the US it’s illegal for someone to use white/red canes if they aren’t legally blind (and try to stop traffic) so it would be good to research the area you live in.
It's absolutely appropriate and even necessary for a partially blind person to use a cane. I do, and I feel just plain wierd if I leave without/forget it. I tell sighted family it's not optional, it'd but like asking you to walk with your eyes closed or looking through vision-altering glasses or something.
@@seamarie3111 I understand and can relate. I have RP, Retinitis Pigmentosa. With a lack of peripherals, I use a white cane for mobility. But with decent central vision, I can still see my bright high-contrast smartphone / tablet. Ignorant people often get confused and suspicious.
@@seanleechild I'm sorry you've had to deal with any of that crap. I had someone on RUclips once years ago who just couldn't wrap their tiny mind around the fact a blind person can use technology. My eyesight is opposite yours; I see better out the peripheral than central, though I can still see that way. My eye condition is in the optic nerves so I was born with much the same vision I have now.
@@seanleechildI’m wondering how to navigate this as well. I have good days and bad days where sometimes I am worse than 20/200 vision and sometimes better. My night vision is generally poor. I’m struggling to get services from my local blind commission because they want me to be irrefutably legally blind (worse than 20/200) and laughed when I told them I sometimes am blind and sometimes not… They don’t seem to understand blindness can fluctuate.
sHey Sam. I need some new T-shirts from you again - can you plus let me have a uk link, because I dont want to be ordering off anyone who may look similar, but just ripping off your designs...cheers...Terry
can someone please help me? I want/need to get a new cane and I need one that I change the tips. Is one brand of cane better than another for changing tips?
Definitely Ambutech, they have a wide variety of tips. I highly recommend the ceramic tip, as it's very tactile and lasts well in my experience. However, do your research to see what kind of tip an Ambutech cane will take. There are slip-on tips, threaded tips, and hook tips so named because they hook internally to the elastic of a folding cane.
Hey, I have Stargardts and was inspired by your genetic testing video. I want to get tested but I am having trouble finding a place to do the test. I live in Brooklyn, NY. Do you have any tips or resources that can help me? Thanks
I had mine done through my regular eye doctor and the test was funded by the foundation fighting blindness. So, first I would check with your eye doctor to see if they have any information. Then I would contact the foundation and see if they are sponsoring the test anywhere near you.
Thank You so much for your video I have retinopathy of prematurity and glaucoma so my central and peripheral vision is poor Will be getting an ID cane soon Great video
There are many canes and I don’t know which would work with which too. I’m interested in the Omni direction al and the ball tip as well as that wheel tip, the problem is I don’t know which will work with which company. Is it just merely trial and error?
Most cane companies design their canes and tips to only work with their canes and tips. For example, if you purchase an Ambutech cane, you will not be able to attach a Revolution Cane tip to the Ambutech cane and vice versa. Sometimes you can make it work if the tips are slip-on versus hook tip, but it still won't fit very well.
@@goshen574 I honestly wasn't sure so I checked with another O&M and they said the omni sense cane comes with 2 adapters. One that fits the Bevria canes and one that fits the Ambutech canes. So, you should be good.
The nice thing about non-NFB canes is the tip variety. I personally like the ceramic cane tips from Ambutech, they're really nice, have great response, and last well!
After watching this video, I am ditching my ID cane because nobody really knows what the hell it is and I look stupid carrying around a short cane in front of me so I am ordering a guide cane. At least I won't look as dumb carrying that came with me, and I am legally blind from birth, forgot to mention that in the beginning.
I got my 6ft. Plastic, foam handle, rotating marshmellow tip from services for the blind here in sacramento california. Full contact user. The cane is great. But alot people or regulars don't know what a white cane is or means. Several regulars have called the police after me. Others run up or after me, and ask me what I am doing with that. Even when I step out of a bus. My neighbors don't allow me to use the sidewalk. I have to walk in the street. I even have homeless people throwing garbage at me, and Mexicans who can't speak English grab me and push me around . So whats a identification cane good for when the regulars don't even know what it is or means? I heard a little kid ask his mommy why I had thar. She replied, to pity me. Why did you test a cane flat on the ground and run over it with a car? Do you crawl across intersections or street?
I have macular degeneration low vision it’s hard to for me to identify walking where I’m at I am going to learn how to walk with a cane that’s going to help me I’m 72 years young and a widow by myself God bless everyone and their eyes I have the wet macular degeneration
I’m not visually impaired, but I love this content. Good stuff for sighted people to be aware of too
Yesss, I always love to see ID and guide canes getting acknowledged, especially as a guide cane user. You're exactly spot on with it too; the reason I went with a guide cane over just an ID one is because of stairs and curbs. Now I can just use my cane instead of doing the whole "gingerly put foot out and tap a few times to be sure the ground is where I think it is" routine.
Lol, I know exactly what you’re talking about!
Does this canes have any kind of ultrasonic sensor In it?
@felix1000 most don't unfortunately, but there are some that do
The light up, folding cane is goals, honestly. My RP would greatly appreciate a cane with a small torch built in! Love this video, just a wealth of useful information.
Awesome, glad you found it helpful!
Yeah, that is pretty neat if you find yourself walking after dark often!
Bless you for taking the time to help your fellow visually impaired community.
Thanks for this great guide! Had lifetime vision loss (substantially more since April 2024). Am re-introducing myself to the world of white canes and the like. Much appreciate having access to your wisdom and guidance!
Sam, in your most recent q&a vid you were talking about blind call outs to find one another in public. I have a few cane using friends and they all bang the tips lo:loudly on the floor to identify where the others are in public spaces. Cane tips on the ground are a unmistakeable. It began with one friend who has a blind daughter and they began doing this when the girl was little as a means of keeping track of one another. The rest of us just latched on.
Yes, I see that action a lot at conferences
Being registered partially blind in the UK, I use a symbol cane everywhere I go. I’ve become more and more reliant on my cane because of the increased used of eScooters. People who use them, do not generally comply with the road safety rules for using them, and are riding them on padestrian walkways etc. I always rely on traffic crossing but unfortuantely, eScooter users, and even some cyclists, do not stop when I am crossing. My cane is the only means for me to convey my circumstances. Anyway, many thanks for the video, it was extremely informative.
"It's not a STICK!!" Haha. Just watched your video on what not to do when you meet with a blind person. I should re-watch this video and count how many times you use the word cane! Glad I came across your channel, sir, it's just right. Not overly sensitive like a new employee at a retail store and not an overflowing attitude of "I don't give a F." Great job!
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks Sam, very helpful and informative. I'm just now getting to the point where I have come to terms with needing to use an ID cane for my safety. Going on walks with my dog (non guide dog) in the community has become difficult. i have faced abuse from people on bikes and scooters when I dont see them till last moment. Additionally have faced abuse from young people which has started to give me anxiety about getting out and about. I just placed an order for ID cane thanks to your video and I truly hope it helps.
Really goes to show how many elements there are to canes, and it’s not just one detail or the other.
As a new cane user, I feel like I'm not blind enough to use a cane since I never used one before. Now as an adult, I feel like I need one because I'm having trouble seeing things even with glasses. I still feel guilty having a cane.
You’re definitely not the only one. Most of us feel like we either aren’t blind enough to use the cane or feel like we need to act more blind to justify using the cane. Both of which are true.
I've been using a cane for years. Recently, I made one from a 2-piece pool cue. It worked so well, I made two more. They cut easily to length and can support your weight, if needed. I marked one as an ID cane. The other two are more formal for use on stage.
Ah, good old canes. My graphite ambutech cane went missing after my last vacation and I've yet to replace it, using my old rigid NFB cane in the meantime. I'm just not a fan of the NFB canes, and I hated how mobility teachers, especially when I was an older teen/young adult, kept pushing them on me and not letting me use anything else. I prefer the folding cane like I grew up with. I tried the NFB folding version, but it honestly sucked. The joints wore away within a year and a half of VERY light use.
Anyway, I went out today with family and, as I do have some vision, I just left my cane behind because we were just going out to eat and I didn't want to store the rigid thing in the restaurant. I felt completely wrongfooted without it and, as vacation is coming around again soon, got right to ordering a new folding cane this evening! At least I can customize the colors now! I kept the main shaft classic white, but made the highlights (handle and joints I think) blue, as well as the lower shaft which is traditionally red. I also got the ceramic tip, which I LOVE and will not go without now!
I ordered mine in blue too! Mine should be shipping to me next week. I too got an NFB cane even though I wanted a foldable one too. I figured it is a free resource that I need/ I can at least practice with it until I could save up to get my foldable one. Luckily, my grandma gave me some money that I'm using for medical expenses so I ordered my 1st Ambutech foldable blue cane as well!! I'm so excited to get it, we have a vacation coming up so it will be nice to fold it away in my luggage for easy access.
@@deadsetondreams1988 Well, mine's still holding up great! I hope you like yours. I'd also highly recommend the ceramic tip if you can get it. It's my favorite of any tip I've tried over the years, though your milage may vary. I did find that older folding cane I'd lost ... and subsequently misplaced it again, haha! It's always good to have a spare so I do still have an NFB straight cane that is mostly used for ... knocking things I drop out from under tables or the bed, honestly. If you want a spare that's not an NFB cane, I think maybe an Ambutech slimline folding cane is a good choice. I've never had one, but they look good as backup. I'll probably get one myself at some point.
Great video Sam! What you said at the end is so true. If you think you're ready for a cane, you are. I started using a cane earlier this year and I have been blown away by how empowered it makes me feel. Using a cane has given me back so much independence. Not to mention how much easier it makes life when I am in a crowded place. People are so much more understanding if I happen to bump into them by accident when they see my cane, as oppsed to me trying to navigate through a crowd without it and bumping into people, they just think I'm rude. I have tried several canes and the one I prefer is the No Jab paired with the Omni Sense tip, which I love.
That’s awesome man, so glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing and thank you for being a member of the channel and for the support!
@@theblindlife Hi Sam, my name is Luis Urbieta and I know that this video was filmed in 2021, and I was have a question. I have 2 Ambutec canes and I want to know are they durable? On 1 cane, the sting does not stay and the older cane the string is all right except to fold it the string doesn't stay how do I go about fixing them?
I know this is a year-old comment but yes, empowered is exactly the word. I've used a cane since I was about four, and (low but stable vision) if I leave the house without one I feel SO wrong-footed and have to go sighted guide which just feels awkward. Hope you're well and having grand adventures with your cane!👍
@@seamarie3111 Thank you.
@SeaMarie That is exactly how I feel without my cane. So if you don't mind me asking, what type of eye condition do you have? I have Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and it is a progressive eye disease. I pretty "good" vision until I was about 24ish and by that time it had progressed to the point that I had very little periferal vision. At this point I have about a 5 percent field of vision. I can't see much detail in that field of vision however. Thanks for the comment.
Sponsors for Sam! Congratulations! You sir have arrived. :-) Thanks for being a great resource in our age of video for so long and I'm glad to see all of the consistency paying off.
Thank you!
Great video Sam. I am from the UK and I use an ID cane, which us Brits call a symbol cane 🧑🏻🦯👍💯
Oh yeah, that’s right! I totally knew that and should have mentioned it in the video. Maybe this comment will find its way into Septembers talk back with the blind life video!
And in Switzerland we call the ID cane a signal cane. All appropriate names!
I am just starting to use a cane. So helpful! Thank you! I had no idea.
Same here!
thank you so much for sharing! im designing a visually impaired character right now and this was super helpful in giving me some good information. it's also just good for me to know in general, i think so i can better understand the experiences of others!
Just found your channel and i love it i am a 40 year old male with degenerated nystagmus with cataracts and a touch of light sensitivity. one of the things i am good at is tech accessibility software hardware etc
...
Awesome, welcome to the channel!
VERY informative. Waiting for cataract surgery. The lit cane seems to strike a cord with me. Thanks for the information, we appreciate all your efforts. I continue to learn a lot.
I lost most of my site seven years ago. This is a great help
Thank you very much Sam for doing this video it definitely will help me decide on which cane would be best for me as I am low vision with sight in my right eye only and that seems to be diminishing and getting blurry in the past year and a half so this information will definitely help me thanks again
Glad it was helpful!
3x
Hi, Sam... I have an ID cane that was given to me by my ex roommate. Since I have limited mobility, I use a rolling walker instead of a cane, with ID tape down the front legs. It's A lot more stable for me than a cane would be.
That's a great idea! I have MS in addition to vision loss from glaucoma and I've been wondering what I could do when I need my rollator for balance.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you so much! I'm learning about personalising canes for individual clients, as I do walking sticks and I've had people enquire. If anyone has anything they think a designer working with canes for VI should know, please reply!
NICE CONTENT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLIND CANES
Does anyone have a recommendation for the thinnest collapsible cane? Thanks!
I’m currently doing research for writing a blind character in a story, and your channel has been super helpful! I was wondering what kind of cane would a high schooler use to navigate in hallways?
Warning: extreme bias follows. I vote Straight nfb cane. It's the one with the foam type handle he showed. It has a metal disk attached to rubber slip on tip, known as metal glide in the variety cane world. It can have a black foam handle or this plasticky rubber handle, which comes on the carbon fiber version. The shaft is long, white, and tapered. It is extremely light. It makes a tap tap sound when used with a technique called two point touch. You could use this as a point of imagery in your story. More importantly, with a straight cane, it is impossible to hide one's blindness.
Bias ends ish here: You have some questions to answer. You should do some research on the blindness organizations. NFB in particular has some strong views, that if your character were raised with NFB, it would show. I find that members of the NFB tend to use NFB canes at a higher incidence than the generally blind population, which seems to prefer ambutech. Ambutech canes most commonly fold up. They are also much heavier, so you get a thing where someone has a cane / tip configuration that they can only use constant contact with. They are also generally what an Orientation & Mobility (O&M) instructor (which is the person who teaches a blind person how to use their cane along with other travel and safety techniques), issue to the new student. {bias...} Many people are happy with their ambutech canes, but I find them much to heavy. Also, ambutech users generally have at least one folding cane, and this one is often their daily driver. I can't valch for this, but the NFB advocates against a folding cane for a beginner, especially if they have remaining vision, as the new cane user may be tempted to hide it away to appear "normal". This ranges from impeding their learning of cane technique, to being genuinely dangerous. {sorta end bias} So your character could also use an ambutech cane. Ambutech and NFB/Chris Park are the main contenders. There is also revolution canes, rainshine canes, D canes, and probably more I don't know about. If your character has any choice in the matter, their cane should somewhat match their personality and aditude towards their blindness. If they are blind and proud of it, perhaps they use a straight cane for daily use, with a foldy for special occasions. Even then, a proud blindy can absolutely have a foldy cane. If they walk fast / hurry hurry person, they'll probably have a longer cane. Also, with canes your meant to have long, such as NFB canes and some of the other brands, the more advanced cane user will also tend to have a longer cane. If your character likes style, perhaps they have an ambutech cane, which come in fun colors. If they're outdoorsy, perhaps they have a few different types of tips (ambutech only) they keep on hand for varied terrain. If your character is ultraprepared for anything, perhaps they have their daily driver, but they also keep a spare cane in their pocket/bag and at least one spare tip.
The above section was if they have any choice in the matter. Blind children who aren't presented with options will just adapt to what they've been given. They'll often grow to prefer what they've been given, given enough time. They might not question why they use a particular type of cane rather than another one if they've never seen/experienced any other options.
I know this has been very long, and I'm sorry for that, but I'm glad you're doing your research. Representing a disabled character accurately, or any character really, requires curiosity, sensativity, and a lack of assumption's / preconceived notions. I have limited experience with canes, as I was raised on NFB canes (apparently of my own free will since I chose an NFB cane over other canes when I first started learning). The other stuff I wrote is from my and my family's observations of other blind people, talking to blind people, watching blind creator's content, etc. Take with a cane of salt. Thank you for your time. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
@@Clostridiumbotulinum37 Ok ... that's a WAY better response than the one I was going to write! You thought of everything and more! I fall on the other side of the bias; I am just not a huge fan of the NFB cane and hated mobility teachers in my later high school years foisting it on me. However, I can see the draw. I wish, as you suggested, mobility teachers would make blind kids more aware of the choices available, though I think Ambutech WAS just about the only choice when I was a kid learning two-point touch in the 90s/early 0s. Growing up, Ambutech canes are what I was trained on until high school, so they're my go-to. I do have an NFB rigid as a backup, though! Your statement that cane preference is somewhat linked to NFB membership makes some sense, as I've never been really active with them aside from some stuff as a teenager.
Also, I'd add that it wouldn't hurt to research cane techniques. You mentioned a high-schooler in a crowded hallway, so choking up on the grip for the pencil grip technique used for crowds is good to note. It's a way to hold the cane so less of it is in front of you, but you can still probe ahead. There's also a brand of canes called Europa I found on Maxiaids. If you want an idea of the kind of stuff blind people use, I recommend you check that sight out. Some of it might seem a little dated, like they sell talking alarm clocks when many people check their phones these days (at least I do) or have a smart speaker (me again). Still, they're something plenty of blind kids grow up having, if not a talking clock than certainly a talking or Braille watch.
Also, what era is this in? If modern, or even within the last few decades, try to research what kinds of assistive tech a blind kid might use in school. If modern, a blind kid is just as likely to have a cell, social media, and whatever as a sighted kid. I'm typing this comment on my iPhone with Braille Screen Input, which is just typing in Braille on the touch screen.
Oh my gosh thank you guys for the info! I’ve been wanting to talk to real people about this for so long, rather than Google just giving me “how to enroll your blind kid in elementary school.” I hope it’s alright if I ask a few more questions. Are there any habits/little characteristics that come with cane using? Also how does test taking and homework assignments work? I imagine the story takes place in modern day, but in a very dilapidated reagion, so the tech will probably be outdated. Thank you again!
@@starfishstudioart8311 Ok, so… I graduated high school in 2009, but from a school for the blind rather than a public high school but I’ll answer the best I can. I’d imagine that, at worst, the student would be using a Perkins Braille writer to do assignments out of class, which would then be transcribed into print by somebody else. They couldn’t use it in class, though, because those things are LOUD and couldn’t be hauled around from class to class, as the metal ones weigh about 8 pounds and they only started doing more plastic-based ones in the last ten years or so. For class notes in this situation, they might need somebody else to write and then read them out later, or use a tape or digital recorder. Hopefully, though, they’d have a laptop or something they could take notes and do assignments on that could be printed out. The fight to get what blind students need from public schools is real, particularly in bad/unwilling districts, which is why I went to blind school in the first place… despite being in a large (and I assume wealthy enough) district in Washington state with few blind kids.
Is your character totally blind, or partially? If partially, I imagine that even getting them teaching/materials in Braille could be a struggle. Fortunately, I was just blind enough I don’t think anyone tried to make me learn with large print, but I’ve heard of that issue in others. I am print literate, though. However, some partially blind people really do do just fine learning from large print. Also, when your character went blind could contribute a lot towards their attitude about blindness. I was born partially blind, so it’s always been my normal and it wasn’t something I was ever particularly ashamed/embarrassed of in high school. However, I could see somebody who recently went blind or who is progressively losing their sight as different in their attitude about it all. I’ve not been there, so I can only speculate such a youth might want to deny/deflect/whatever.
Sorry, I kind of got off topic. If totally or even partially blind, they’d read Braille. Braille textbooks are HUGE, taking up several volumes. That’s what I used in high school, and I’d still strongly encourage Braille use/literacy at that level. However, I can see some schools trying to cheap out by using all audio materials or the student needing to get other students/friends to read out relevant sections from the print textbooks/assignments. I transitioned to ebooks in college and have felt a pang of regret that I don’t read NEARLY as much Braille as I used to…
Cane habits… hmm… Well, I tended to just kind of twirl around the elastic band at the top of mine when I was standing bored, and certainly enjoyed the satisfaction of letting it unfold, but there’s not much more I can think of.
Oh, I almost forgot something very important! If the school’s a bit behind the times, a Braille notetaker would very likely be something the student uses to write up notes and assignments. I personally don’t see the need for those anymore, as I’d rather use my iPad and a Braille display instead, but do look up things like the BrailleNote from Humanware as reference. If the student is a bit poor themself, I imagine the school dusting off an old MPower or Apex from la previous student attending like 10 years ago if it still works. However, Braille notetakers do NOT come cheap, costing around $5,0000, depending on Braille display size. Dedicated Braille displays without the primary function as notetaker are a bit cheaper, from around $1,200 to $2,500 roughly. My Braille display was paid for by the state when I was in my last semester of college, and was on the higher end of that. Don’t mistake me, working with the state to get stuff funded can be like pulling teeth.
Also, for getting assignments, I would assume that perhaps your school is a bit out of date and doesn’t use things like Blackboard or Canvas, so it would be up to a vision aid to make assignments accessible, I assume.
I’m sorry if this was a bit disjointed and unhelpful. It’s more like a stream of consciousness/word vomit reply. I’m not exactly known for being concise. I only went to public school in the mid to late 90s and early 2000s, so a lot has changed and I’m just trying to pull out what I remember of school and trying to mash it together with a modern but rather out-of-date setting.
Best of luck with the book!
Fell free to ask more questions!
I'm in the infant stage of learning to use a cane. Your video was very informative for me. Now I know what kinds of questions to ask my O&M instructor. I'm curious...you mentioned the last cane (for support?) but didn't elaborate on it. Did you do a separate video about that cane?
My mother recently suggested that I start using a cane. I'm thinking either an id cane or guide cane
Nice job putting this together, Sam! Watching this from Egypt ❤
Great video. Thanks. I have a few canes but appreciate the info on other models.
Hi, I hope you are doing great. Thanks for making this video and educating us.
The bungee cord on my mobility cane broke and subsequently my cane fell apart as I was about to exit a plane recently. Fortunately, a very kind flight attendant offered me her elbow to escort me to the top of the jet way. Hmm 🤔 maybe my cane should break more often😎
Lol! Maybe there’s a new cane that you could invent. One that has a breakaway elastic cord for a situation like that! Lol
Hello Sam, I’m relatively new to this but I’m very interested in the telescopic cane because I do a lot of traveling and it would make it easier to pet I’m legally blind so I have site and can manage pretty well
The telescoping cane is nice, but the one I had did loosen over time quite a bit, where it would start sliding around and shortening on walks. I personally recommend the folding cane. It folds compactly enough and some manufacturers, like Ambutech, even sell little holsters/pouches for you to stash it in when it's not in use that can clip to your belt or bag or whatever. I know this comment is about 10 months late, but still wish you best of luck!
Trying to write a blind character for an rpg, this is great research thank you :)
If you need any more help, shoot me an email, sam attheblind life.net. Happy to answer questions.
I like a one inch diameter wooden cane with a crook handle. I does a good job stopping cars when held out in front of me. I am also starting out using a one inch diameter, four foot dowel cane with a roller ball tip.
I suspect that I will be needing one of these soon (on a hospital waiting list). Thanks for the information on what is available in the US. I just know that if I want anything with a bigger grip (my hands have gripping issues), I will have to get a 'special order' from overseas as the range of assistive items is very small here (NZ).
Hey, I just spent a week in South Australia and even flew over to Auckland for the day. Beautiful country!
Very interesting! I had no idea there were so many. Thanks and Cheers
Have you done any videos on custom colored canes? I would love to see your views on that
I just ordered my first colored cane from Ambutech, and am pretty excited! I traded out the red lower shaft and black highlight colors for blue, hoping it works out! I kept the rest white for ID purposes though!
Thanks for this video which was very informative. I see that Ambutech sells customized canes in different colors. Wondering whether these are as easily and as well recognized by the public as mobility canes as the white ones are. Do you have any experience with these?
Hi
Great video!
I have usher syndrome type 2 and one of my symptoms is night blindness
How can I purchase the light cane thanks
Thanks Sam so much. I didn’t know there was a difference in guide and mobility cane. As I am low vision, I was given a mobility cane at my training and rarely use it because it so heavy and big. I think a guide cane would be a much better fit for me because of it being lighter and smaller. Hopefully will help me with curbs, holes, inclines, etc. Would like to also avoid the ugly stares when I walk in front of people by accident if they come up on my right side which is totally blind. Where is the best website to get a high quality guide cane? And what is your recommendation for a tip?
Ambutech sales guy canes here in the states. They are part of their slim cane line. As far as tips, I don’t think you have many options with the slim/guide cane. Check out the website and see what they offer.
@@theblindlife ok thank you
Check out the NFB canes. They are very sturdy and very light. They offer rigid, telescoping, and folding. The only possible downside is that the NFB canes only come with the metal glide tip. I am a COMS (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist).
@@kevinjernigan6649 thank you so much. That was kind of you to respond. I will check them out.
@@apiecemaker1163 no problem. I would also add that cane tips are very much like shoes. We have different shoes for different occasions. For example, you probably wouldn't wear dress shoes to go hiking and also probably wouldn't wear flip flips to attend a fancy dinner. Each tip has it's pro's and cons. I would recommend getting in contact with a training center in your state to see what services are available and hopefully get set up with a COMS who work with you to determine what the best style of cane and tips are for your travel level and environment. Often times if the center is a blind vocational rehab center the services are free to the consumer.
Great stuff Sam 🙋
I am looking to purchase a new white cane, Christmas 2023 - what do you think is the best overall white cane, or modern white cane? I know you linked one a while back in a gaming video I was watching, but I can’t seem to find it again.
What kind of cane would you suggest a beginner and newly blind to this community
thank you Sam, very interesting!
Where can I get the nice folding cane with the red handle . Thank you Sir
Great video! I have a quick question about folding canes. When you unfold the cane and put it together, does it wiggle a little at the joints or is it pretty tight? Is that typical of folding canes? I have a folding cane and the joints wiggle which is kind of distracting. Thanks!
Yes, that’s pretty common. Depending on how well the cane was made, or how tight the inner cord is, you may have a little or a lot of wiggle.
I have RP Retinitis Pigmentosa. I see fairly in daylight and within my central vision, but lack night vision and peripherals.
I like simplicity and minimalism and dislike using any accessories. But my doctor advised me that I SHOULD use my white cane more often, because even though I can navigate fine in familiar areas, I often miss people and things from my lack of peripherals and get upset when I bump into others or others bump into me. I feel pissed off and expect others to yield to me, but others can't know I'm visually impaired if I don't identify myself and show them some signs right?
I have RP. Start using it now for practice. I had stopped driving but could still see fairly well,. I felt awkward. Now, things have progressed to a point whereI'm glad I did.
What about going through TSA? I'm getting ready to go on my first flying trip since I started using my cane and then there was covid that kept me home, too.
@Nathaniel Caudill I'm sorry I wasn't clear, I didn't travel because of the pandemic. This is my first flight since before the pandemic. My nephew is getting married and I'll be flying alone. I was just curious since it's my first flight dealing with a cane, if there was anything I needed to be prepared for.
I always fly with my cane. TSA is usually quite helpful with visually impaired travelers. 99% of the time someone from TSA comes and gets me to skip the line unless the line is quite short. You don’t need to do anything specific because of the cane. I have mine go through the the X-ray machine and have someone guide me where they want to screen me (usually the same place as everyone else but they will assist if I can’t deduce where they need me.)
If you are totally blind you can tell them that and they can assist as much as you need.
@@retireddac I normally travel with friends, but this is my first trip alone. I'm excited, and nervous all at the same time, thanks!
I know what you mean. I am usually with my vision assist dog or “seeing-eye-wife”. It can be a bit unnerving at first. Ironically, airports are one of the most blind friendly places since there will always be an airline or airport employee that will assist disabled travelers as needed. You can ask any airline employee to make a note in their system that you are visually impaired and they will even have someone meet you at your gate and bring you to the next gate or baggage claim if you are more comfortable with that.
Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your travels.
Katrina, lots of great information here, thank you to the other commenters! I made a video titled independent travel for the visually impaired which you may find helpful. In that video I go over several tips and tricks for traveling. Most of which was talking about airports. As the others have already said, don’t be shy and don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed.. Also request to pre-board the airplane, very nice to get on there and get situated before everyone else gets on.
Thanks!
Hi.. can put a link for the ID cane ?
I know this isn’t the purpose, but can any of these canes be used for self-defense?
Anything can be used for self defense with the right training and skills, but you would definitely want to have one of the sturdier types of cane if you think you might need it for that purpose.
@@Positivekitten excellent
I'm having cataract and a cornea transplant surgery next month. I'm legally blind in the other eye, so I'm concerned about getting around in unfamiliar places. I have practiced at home using only my bad eye and have done well. However, would it be OK to use a white cane to help with curbs and cracks going to my doctor's appointments? Hopefully, I'll be able to see after several days. Thanks in advance.
Absolutely! The cane is a tool to be used whenever you need it. As long as you’re not abusing it, or faking a vision impairment in order to get government assistance, you are allowed to use the cane if you need it.
@@theblindlife Thank you so much! I think that I'm going to buy a trekking stick. I still have not decided. They moved my surgery up, so I need to decide.
Do the still make the LED cane ?
Where do I find a folding guide cane?!?!? I have enough vision to not need a long white cane, but the department for the blind in my state never even told me there were other options! A folding guide cane would be perfect for my level of vision! And it wouldn’t be a nuisance like the straight cane they gave me since it is as tall as I am😅
Amazon, Maxi Aids, NFB etc.
Hi Sam, you’ve got a spelling error in the cane types screen. Mobility vs Movility
Aw crap, lol! If I had a dollar for every Typo, well you know the rest! Thanks for pointing it out!
Do only completely blind people use a white cane, or is it appropriate, necessary and effective for visually impaired people with some vision loss to use a white cane as well?
from what i understand it depends on area and what it is used for, for instance in some states in the US it’s illegal for someone to use white/red canes if they aren’t legally blind (and try to stop traffic) so it would be good to research the area you live in.
It's absolutely appropriate and even necessary for a partially blind person to use a cane. I do, and I feel just plain wierd if I leave without/forget it. I tell sighted family it's not optional, it'd but like asking you to walk with your eyes closed or looking through vision-altering glasses or something.
@@seamarie3111 I understand and can relate. I have RP, Retinitis Pigmentosa. With a lack of peripherals, I use a white cane for mobility. But with decent central vision, I can still see my bright high-contrast smartphone / tablet. Ignorant people often get confused and suspicious.
@@seanleechild I'm sorry you've had to deal with any of that crap. I had someone on RUclips once years ago who just couldn't wrap their tiny mind around the fact a blind person can use technology.
My eyesight is opposite yours; I see better out the peripheral than central, though I can still see that way. My eye condition is in the optic nerves so I was born with much the same vision I have now.
@@seanleechildI’m wondering how to navigate this as well. I have good days and bad days where sometimes I am worse than 20/200 vision and sometimes better. My night vision is generally poor. I’m struggling to get services from my local blind commission because they want me to be irrefutably legally blind (worse than 20/200) and laughed when I told them I sometimes am blind and sometimes not… They don’t seem to understand blindness can fluctuate.
Thanks for the video do you have a we walk Cane?
Yes, I own one but don’t use it.
QUESTION: how can I zoom in and out on my android camera with TalkBack? I have a Moterola one 5G ACE now.
sHey Sam. I need some new T-shirts from you again - can you plus let me have a uk link, because I dont want to be ordering off anyone who may look similar, but just ripping off your designs...cheers...Terry
can someone please help me? I want/need to get a new cane and I need one that I change the tips. Is one brand of cane better than another for changing tips?
You can get a wide variety from Amazon or Maxi aids. Most of the canes will be able to switch tips. The most common brand is ambutech
Definitely Ambutech, they have a wide variety of tips. I highly recommend the ceramic tip, as it's very tactile and lasts well in my experience. However, do your research to see what kind of tip an Ambutech cane will take. There are slip-on tips, threaded tips, and hook tips so named because they hook internally to the elastic of a folding cane.
Hey, I have Stargardts and was inspired by your genetic testing video. I want to get tested but I am having trouble finding a place to do the test. I live in Brooklyn, NY. Do you have any tips or resources that can help me? Thanks
I had mine done through my regular eye doctor and the test was funded by the foundation fighting blindness. So, first I would check with your eye doctor to see if they have any information. Then I would contact the foundation and see if they are sponsoring the test anywhere near you.
Thank You so much for your video
I have retinopathy of prematurity and glaucoma so my central and peripheral vision is poor
Will be getting an ID cane soon
Great video
There are many canes and I don’t know which would work with which too. I’m interested in the Omni direction al and the ball tip as well as that wheel tip, the problem is I don’t know which will work with which company. Is it just merely trial and error?
Most cane companies design their canes and tips to only work with their canes and tips. For example, if you purchase an Ambutech cane, you will not be able to attach a Revolution Cane tip to the Ambutech cane and vice versa. Sometimes you can make it work if the tips are slip-on versus hook tip, but it still won't fit very well.
@@kevinjernigan6649
Oh damn…so can an Omni wheel hook up to an ambutech? If not I will return ambutech for something that will fit it.
@@goshen574 I honestly wasn't sure so I checked with another O&M and they said the omni sense cane comes with 2 adapters. One that fits the Bevria canes and one that fits the Ambutech canes. So, you should be good.
I got the LED cane and it broke first time I used it the light won't turn on anymore
I recommend. Take the cane with a bigger ball, because they are better to feel the ground.
The nice thing about non-NFB canes is the tip variety. I personally like the ceramic cane tips from Ambutech, they're really nice, have great response, and last well!
@@seamarie3111 even too
Small cane in UK are called symbol canes.
Shout out to stability white canes.
Hi, i live in india, new delhi. Could you help me getting cane with light in new delhi and how much this might cost me in Indian rupees?
After watching this video, I am ditching my ID cane because nobody really knows what the hell it is and I look stupid carrying around a short cane in front of me so I am ordering a guide cane. At least I won't look as dumb carrying that came with me, and I am legally blind from birth, forgot to mention that in the beginning.
Where are the Links?
Nothing like a sighted mobility instructor completely ignoring the NFB cane!
❤
I got my 6ft. Plastic, foam handle, rotating marshmellow tip from services for the blind here in sacramento california. Full contact user. The cane is great. But alot people or regulars don't know what a white cane is or means. Several regulars have called the police after me. Others run up or after me, and ask me what I am doing with that. Even when I step out of a bus. My neighbors don't allow me to use the sidewalk. I have to walk in the street. I even have homeless people throwing garbage at me, and Mexicans who can't speak English grab me and push me around . So whats a identification cane good for when the regulars don't even know what it is or means? I heard a little kid ask his mommy why I had thar. She replied, to pity me. Why did you test a cane flat on the ground and run over it with a car? Do you crawl across intersections or street?
What is the price for the cane
There are lots of different canes featured in this video, and they all have different prices . And get a cane for $10, all the way up to about $600.
Hello, that is very interesting to hear more details regarding the white canes uses, can i have your email for personal related conversation.
i am number 3
What rupees??
Hello Sam
Howdy
I have a black cane.
I can’t help noticing all the cane you have are the red and white cans for death people I did not realise you was death blind.
I think you mean deaf, not death, however in North America, the red and white cane is only a symbol of blindness, not deafness.
I have macular degeneration low vision it’s hard to for me to identify walking where I’m at I am going to learn how to walk with a cane that’s going to help me I’m 72 years young and a widow by myself God bless everyone and their eyes I have the wet macular degeneration