Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell From: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: A New Cane Message-ID: <10037@bunker.UUCP> Date: 10 Feb 90 13:52:56 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA Lines: 37 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 6631 V*> The only thing is, I do miss not being able to fold it up and V*> getting it the heck out of my way! It seems like there are so V*> many places where I feel like I shouldn't just lay it on the V*> floor, like in school or something, because someone might trip V*> over it or slip on it! My NFB friends say that I shouldn't even V*> think about it and that sighted people should just watch out V*> for it on their own. Well, I have learned very quickly that V*> members of my chapter of NFB are very much into independence V*> and letting you know that they are not ashamed of their V*> blindness or visual limitations, but neither am I. However, I V*> kind of feel that if I am "always" making sighted people watch V*> out for my cane (especially when not walking!) that then I am V*> letting my disability become an obstacle to them! That does V*> bother me. I feel like I am infringing upon them. So, I am V*> having difficulty dealing with a cane that I can't just fold up V*> and put in my purse, lap and et cetera. Hey, Vixen... I agree with you on both points. I think my right to independence stops at the point where I *unnecessarily inconvinience others. The key word there is "unnecessarily", of course! I have always found the ridgid canes to be, while useful, awkward on buses and among crowds. Not only are they a hazard to sighted folks, how about your fellow blinkies? I've tripped over a long ridgid cane or two in my life, I can tells ya. 'course, if it really works better for you traveling, stick with it. An alternative, though, is a longer folding cane. They make them in all lenths, and some out of that nice light fiberglass, too. So, ya might be able to meet folks half-way and still be as quick and independent and carefree! ... Happiness is a warm modem. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell Internet: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org