Canes: Types and How to Use | Henshaws Hints and Tips
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มิ.ย. 2024
- Welcome to our channel! In this video, Simon and Mark, talk us through the different types of cane and how to use them.
We have a guide to mobility canes on our website: www.henshaws.org.uk/hints-and...
Timestamps:
00:00 Symbol Cane
00:44 Guide Cane
01:23 Long Cane
02:17 Rucksacks!
02:25 Training
02:42 Outro
Subscribe now for more Hints and Tips and to stay updated on our mission to create a more inclusive world.
Our library of Hints and Tips information: www.henshaws.org.uk/hints-and...
Our charity supports people living with sight loss and a range of disabilities to achieve their ambitions and to go beyond expectations.
Link to donate: www.henshaws.org.uk/donate
#Henshaws #HintsAndTips #VisuallyImpaired #SightLoss #Accessibility #AccessGuide #Technology #ScreenReaders #VI
Good video, however it is yesterdays news. Please take a look at the new Ambutech NO-JAB Cane and the new Ambutech Pathfinder 360° rotating 2 inch ball cane tip. Using the constant ground contact method permits much more obstacle discovery and much easier to use.
As always, fantastic video Mark.
From Debbie from Gloucestershire
Good afternoon Debbie, thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed the video!
I have a no jab long cane with a marshmellow roller tip.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the symbol cane especially here in the United States nobody knows what it is when I am carrying mine around I am legally blind not even doctors offices know what it is so it is basically useless and I don't use it anymore.
Another video illustrating just how inconsistent the messaging around canes is. Here’s the issues and inaccuracies:
1 - Symbol canes - Many are actually long and do touch the ground so simply saying that they’re the shortest one is wrong. There is only 15cm between the symbol canes sold in the RNIB shop and the shortest guide canes they sell for example. Depending on your height and angle a 70cm symbol cane will almost certainly touch the floor.
Sensory teams offer symbol canes but the advice on how to use them is largely non-existent and most are put away in a drawer or never used. I actually collided with someone in Piccadilly Gardens who had their symbol cane still folded and across their chest and, on the rare occasions you see people out and about with them, that’s how most are used, which suggests that the advice on what they’re for and how to use them remains poor.
Bottom line is that even holding a symbol cane unfolded in front of you won’t explain to most other people what it is. The idea that bus drivers in GM would understand it has to be a joke. Most don’t even lower the bus floor for cane users. The only thing which makes a cane visible to other people is moving it about.
Biggest reason people don’t use canes is exactly because the advice on using them is poor/inconsistent and there is a psychological barrier to overcome. The general belief remains that use of a cane makes you vulnerable in some way or a target. The opposite is true. Making the invisible visible is the best thing and is a protection rather than a hindrance. Unfortunately, the messaging around that remains non-existent.
2 - Guide canes - I am literally the only person I have seen in GM using a guide cane. Never seen a sensory team give one out and they certainly DON’T train anyone to use them. The only training on offer is for long/navigation canes. Again, as above, if you don’t hold it away from you and move it from side then it is literally invisible to others. I have lost multiple canes to breakages from other pedestrians who have walked straight into it and either bent or snapped it. Generally happens once a year at minimum. Stopped happening and soon as I learnt to move it. Clearly intrigues lots of people who don’t understand why there is no ball on it etc. but then most of us aren’t bothered about whether they understand our sight loss or the specifics of how or why we use our canes. We just need the thing to be visible and to aid us with borders, gradients etc.
I note also that whilst there was a reference to being able to replace whatever is on the end of a navigation cane there was no reference to the fact that you can also do that with guide canes e.g. there are pencil tip replacements for a small cost.
3 - very good advice with regard to a ruck sack but I would also add in that 1 of the things which should be in that ruck sack should be a spare cane and some spare tips. Also good advice to use a white cane. There is a tendency now for some people to have different coloured handles to express their individuality. That’s great but you’re fairly individual by having a cane and by having a coloured one you have almost certainly made yourself less visible in lots of circumstances. Having seen a red cane user hit by a HGV in a UK city (albeit at low speed thank goodness) I would never contemplate any colour beyond white.
Wholly unrelated but are there plans to update the Henshaws bus hailer to include the V buses? Still not found a bus hailer with a V in for GM.
Good afternoon Mike, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. We understand the frustrations. In regards to your question, the V is included in our current bus hailers. It's on the left panel and it's the last letter. If yours doesn't include one, give us a ring or send us an email to discuss it!