A lifetime of learning independence through cane travel

I want to share my experiences and milestones in using canes throughout my life. For many years, I didn’t consider my cane a tool for independence. She felt embarrassed when she saw me carrying it and often resisted using it. As a child, I did not understand why I was encouraged to carry a stick when no one else did. I didn’t like to feel different, so I left my stick behind whenever I could.

Over time, through experience and O&M instruction, I began to understand the true value of the cane. This transformation changed my life and ultimately inspired me to help other blind people understand how powerful the cane is in opening the door to independence, goals, and dreams.

Early childhood and learning to adapt

I became completely blind at the age of two. At that time, there were no local services for blind children, so my mother sought information wherever she could, reading publications and contacting agencies that primarily served blind adults.

While locating services, I adapted naturally. I learned that if I pushed the tonka truck in front of me, I wouldn’t hit my head. I drove it all over the house, around furniture, under tables, and across floors. Looking back, I realize that I was actually using the mobility tool and learning how to move independently.

My first cane

When I was four years old, my mother took me to an agency that taught blindness skills, including operation and maintenance, Braille, and daily living skills. Because they didn’t have a stick small enough, my teacher made a soft wooden stick with a rubber grip and a pencil tip. Once I realized that keeping it in front of me helped me avoid obstacles, the stick quickly replaced my Tonka Truck.

We even engraved my name and design on the wood, but the stick was heavy. My teacher later modified another stick that was hollow, lightweight, and looked more like a fishing pole. With this stick, I was soon traveling confidently with my kindergarten classmates.

Resistance in elementary school

In the third grade, I entered the stage of resistance. I have relied heavily on echolocation and know my school environment well. Although I used my stick during O&M lessons, I intentionally left it behind most of the time. I wanted to fit in with my friends, and carrying a stick made me feel different.

For a short while, I enjoyed using a folding stick. My classmates called it a “light saber.” But the novelty quickly wore off when I attracted more attention than I wanted, and my cane often remained propped up against the classroom door.

Prep and learn advocacy

My transition to middle school was a turning point. The building was larger, the hallways were crowded, and the use of auditory information was more difficult. The day before school started, my O&M teacher directed me to plan. Using my cane and my Braille chart, I was able to mark the location of each classroom. With every stroke of my wand through the empty halls, my self-confidence grew.

On the first day of school, I used my cane. For the first time I felt truly free. I can get anywhere in the building independently.

This confidence was tested when I was called into the counselor’s office and told that I should not use my cane in crowded halls because it was “not safe.” I calmly explained how and why I used my cane and advocated for my right to use it responsibly. After meeting with the O&M instructor and vision instructor, I was allowed to continue.

That moment became one of my first real experiences in self-advocacy and solidified my commitment to independence.

Motivation to build strong travel skills

Later, when I began exploring the possibility of obtaining a guide dog, I learned that strong operation and maintenance skills were required before attending training. That conversation motivated me to continue using the cane consistently throughout high school and to continue enhancing my travel skills.

Employment and trust

My first job was at a skating rink, where I worked as a DJ. Eventually, I also served customers at the snack bar and handed out rental skates. Skating was the fastest way to move around the rink, and loud music made auditory cues unreliable. Although I knew the environment well, my cane allowed me to move around safely and helped others realize that I was blind.

College and understanding true independence

In college, I worked with a guide dog but always carried and used a collapsible or telescoping pole. My dog ​​was more than just a social icebreaker. People asked about his name a lot more than they asked about my stick. At this point, I was appreciating both tools and no longer worried about public perception.

Around this time, I met another blind student who had limited operation and maintenance skills and did not use a cane. We talked about how using a cane supports true independence, the ability to go to the ATM, attend events, or leave when you choose without relying on others. That conversation helped me realize that my experience could encourage others to see the value of cane travel.

Travel, sports and independence

Using a cane has allowed me to travel independently at any time of the day. I competed in alpine skiing and goalball and made my own travel arrangements for competitions all over the country. Each trip enhanced my skills and boosted my self-confidence.

Become a professional in operation and maintenance

These experiences led me to pursue a master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility at Western Michigan University. By then, my travel skills had become second nature, and I felt ready to support others as they learned to move safely and independently.

During my O&M training with blind children, I loved hearing their excitement as they explored with their canes for the first time. Watching someone gain independence through mobility is an invaluable experience.

Where am I today?

For many years, I saw my cane as the thing that defined me. Today, I see it as the tool that has helped me build a life of independence, confidence and opportunity. My experience as a cane user led me to pursue and earn a master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility and ACVREP certification, working alongside others as they discovered their freedom through travel.

Although my degree has since ended, my belief in the value of cane travel has not. I still use my cane every day, and I still see it as a symbol of choice, the choice to go where I want, when I want, and how I want.

If there is one lesson I have learned from my journey, it is that the stick does not limit us. When embraced and supported through quality education, it becomes a powerful tool for independence, self-advocacy, and a life lived on our own terms.

Learn more:

Mastering the White Cane: Mobility, Safety, and Fall Prevention

Strange white cane? See how people travel when they are blind or visually impaired