h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So Friday last week I made a decision that I would a) use my white cane in the dark and in unfamiliar places and b) get a refresher course in using it to make sure i'm doing it properly.

So earlier today I had my first refresher lesson. The mobility Advisor said that i am doing fine as it is, and that she didn't notice me doing anything wrong (apart from not really crossing one side street properly (the street i live down and cross several times daily )) and all i need is just a bit of confidence to let myself be seen using my cane and be ready if/when any of my friends ask questions.

So tonight i had my first real test of that too. Some friends were having dinner in a pub about ten minutes walk away, so i figured, well if i'm going to do this, then now is as good a time as any. And nobody mentioned it, like at all so that was okay. Then used it all the way back to where i was getting picked up for rehearsal and the girls picking me up also said nothing about it.

This is reassuring as I had feared that friends (especially friends who don't *know* (as far as i'm aware)) might start acting strangely, or asking questions about why my white cane has suddenly appeared.

I haven't even had any creepy old men (or anyone else for that matter) ask if i need help crossing the street or anything. I have had one person paying less attention than they should be, trip over my cane, but that wasn't my fault. (dark and rainy, my favourite combination)

So basically i have started admitting openly to the universe that yes i am Blind, and err well, the universe really isn't that fussed, which is good.

I do think it will take a good while until the little knot of fear that appears each time i unfold it and start using it goes away, but it's already much smaller than it was which is good.

The next step is to let some of my university friends see me using it, and just hope for the best really.

mini

Well done Mini

I think most of your acq.. aq.. friends know you're visually impaired anyway, so that might be reason they didn't react to you using a cane.

I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again. Atta girl!

Well done!


lil xx

and... don't forget people falling/tripping over the cane is an indication its working.... as they'd clearly not seen the cane, the likelyhood would be, if they'd not been notified to your presence, by teh cane and their tripping, they'd have just gone and walked into you...
As much as its needed to find your way around, and locate obsticles, its equally as useful, and moreso for those who still have some sight, as an indication to other people on the street, if they fail to notice, then that is there lookout... or not if you see what I mean