
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a time to raise awareness about state White Cane Laws across the country. Wisconsin’s law requires that drivers stop at least 10 feet from a pedestrian carrying a white cane or using a guide dog. White Cane Safety Day takes place during National Pedestrian Safety Month, recognized throughout October. For many people who are blind or low vision, a white cane is a critical tool for moving safely around their home, neighborhood and community.
There are two main methods of using a white cane for mobility: the two-point touch method and the constant contact method. The two-point touch technique involves tapping your cane in front of each foot as you walk, lifting it in an arch between each tap. The constant contact technique involves letting your cane constantly slide across the ground in front of you. You can find more information about using a white cane in the White Cane User Guide on our website.
While the guide is a good place to start learning about white canes, it barely scratches the surface ow what you need to know to use a white cane effectively. We encourage every white cane user to receive training from a Certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist. A Certified O&M Specialist can not only teach you how to use your cane but can also help you pick which type of cane is best for you.
“There’s more to using a cane than can be put in any guide,” says the Certified O&M Specialist Brent Perzentka of the Council. “You must learn your specific cane and your specific community to help you stay safe. You can’t really learn it all on your own; you really need someone to teach you.”
For years, the Council has been providing free white canes to people across Wisconsin. Any state resident who needs a white cane is eligible for one every 24 months. You can find more information about our White Cane Program and request a free white cane on our website at WCBlind.org/Vision-Services/Free-White-Cane-Policy or by calling us at 608-255-1166.
There are actually different categories of white canes: mobility canes, identification canes and support canes.
An identification cane is mainly used to identify someone as blind or low vision. This type of cane is typically shorter than a mobility cane. They are not designed for navigation purposes, but they can be used that way in a pinch. Identification canes can be folded up into smaller sections to make them easier to transport. They are generally used by people with some usable vision to signify to other pedestrians and drivers that the user is low vision.
Support canes are designed to provide physical support and stability. Like identification canes, these canes are meant to signify to others that you have low vision. They are white with a red base at the bottom and can come with different handles for a more comfortable grip.
A mobility cane, or long cane, is the type used for navigation. This kind of cane provides tactile feedback to detect objects and inform the user about what’s ahead of them. While they can come in a variety of different styles, they all perform the same basic function of telling you what’s in front of you.
Mobility canes come in three main materials—aluminum, graphite and fiberglass. Many aluminum and graphite canes can be folded up for easy storage, while fiberglass canes tend to be rigid. Mobility canes need to be long enough to identify what’s in front of your next step.
Mobility canes can utilize a variety of different tips to best navigate different environments. Ambutech brand white canes, which the Council provides through our free White Cane Program, come with a pencil tip, which is a thin straight tip with a rounded end. These lightweight tips are best used with the two-point touch technique and provide great feedback on what lies ahead.
Free canes provided by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) come equipped with a metal tip. While this tip can be used with the two-point touch method, they can also be used with the constant contact technique because they do not get caught easily in cracks in the sidewalk. All NFB canes are rigid and come with a non-replaceable metal tip, while Ambutech canes can also be fitted with a metal tip.
Another popular tip is the Ambutech Marshmallow Roller Tip. This tip uses ball bearings to glide over the ground and is best used with the constant contact method. If you live in an area with cracked sidewalks, this tip can show you where those cracks are without getting caught and jamming your cane into the ground.
No matter how long you’ve been using a white cane, we strongly recommend you take O&M training to ensure that you are using it properly. You can learn more about your O&M options by calling us at 608-255-1166 or email us at Info@WCBlind.org.