Canes or guide dogs?

Why do some people use canes and others use guide dogs?

The choice is a personal one which involves careful consideration of lifestyle and travel factors.A cane user crossing the road at the zebra crossings

Canes

A white cane is a mobility tool that enables the person to move about safely and independently. It also acts as a symbol that the person carrying it has a vision impairment.

The cane is long enough to be about two steps ahead of the person’s feet. This allows the walker to find objects with the cane before hitting them. There are three types of canes:

  • A long cane usually comes up to the persons chest, it has a teflon tip that helps the user identify surface changes, curbs and other obstacles
  • A symbol cane is thinner than a long cane and is around 70cm in length. It is used only to indicate to others that the person has a vision impairment. It doesn’t give the user any information about the environment
  • A support cane is used by people who need extra support when walking but also want to indicate they have a vision impairment. White is used internationally to signify vision impairment

Red is also normally used at the bottom, making the cane more visible. The primary role of the cane is to provide information about the environment through contact of the tip with the ground. There are electronic devices that can be fitted to a cane to provide additional information

How can you help a cane user?

  • Be on the look out for blind and partially sighted pedestrians, they may take longer to start crossing the road than expected
  • Do not over shoot the white line when you stop at a red light  
  • Do not yell instructions, gesture or use your horn to communicate with the cane user. This could lead to confusion
  • Do not stop for the cane user to cross the road if the light is green for you. Traffic coming from the opposite direction may not stop and the pedestrian could get stuck in the middle of the road. This is a dangerous situation to negotiate

Ask a blind or partially sighted person if they want help, please do not grab the person or their cane to indicate assistance

Guide dogs

Some people like to use a guide dog to get around. These dogs are specially trained to move around obstacles, go through doorways, and stop at curbs and stairs.

When the guide dog handler hears that it is safe to cross the street, he or she will tell the dog to go ahead. And when they arrive at a restaurant or business, the dog will find the door.

The guide dog handler is always in charge and must tell the dog what to do. Learn more about guide dogs.



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