The white cane is a vital mobility tool for many blind and partially sighted people and White Cane Safety Day (15 October) is a great excuse to celebrate this essential device. Lyndon B Johnson proclaimed the first White Cane Safety Day in October 1964 – here are six facts to help you appreciate white canes…
1. There are different canes for different jobs
The most common white cane is a long cane, which is primarily a mobility tool used to detect objects in the path of the user. Most long canes can be folded away when not in use, although some people prefer a rigid, non-folding cane. As a rough guide, a long cane should reach from the user’s sternum to the floor, but fast walkers, for example, may choose a longer length of cane to help them detect obstacles in good time.
There are two other types of white cane in common use: guide canes and symbol canes.
Guide canes are shorter than long canes, and used primarily to scan for steps and kerbs although they can also be used diagonally across the body for protection, warning the user of obstacles immediately ahead.
Symbol canes are not a mobility aid, instead their primary use is to alert other people to the user’s visual impairment. Unlike long canes and guide canes, no special training is required to use a symbol cane safely.
2. Mobility canes need a tip
Long canes and guide canes require a cane tip – most will hook on and require changing regularly as they wear out with use. People can choose from a wide range of cane tips to find the one that suits them best. Some are designed to roll as the cane moves, others are static. Usually, users will get to try different types of cane tip as part of the mobility training that is needed for using a mobility cane.
In addition to the common rolling ball and roller marshmallow tips, there are speciality tips available. For rough and uneven ground, you can choose to use a Dakota disc tip, a rover tip (a rubber wheel that rolls forward and back), or a curved tip.
There are high-mileage tips designed for people who cover a lot of ground and coloured tips so you can personalise your cane or simply swap out the tip to match your outfit.
Most tips hook on to the elastic cord that runs inside the cane and allows it to be folded up when not in use. Although many canes are sold with a CordLock device (a piece of plastic designed to prevent the cord getting lost inside the shaft of the cane), it is still possible for the cord to slip out of reach when changing the cane tip. While there is a special tool – a cord fisher – to help retrieve it, some people will use a hook-to-thread adapter so they can use threaded tips. Although this does limit the choice of tip available, it does mean you simply screw the old tip off and the new one on.
3. White canes aren't always white
Although the white cane is traditionally associated with sight loss, a mobility cane in the UK can be pink, purple, blue, or a mixture of all three! (Other colours are also available!) A UK cane with alternating white and red sections or stripes signifies that the user is deafblind.
The average mobility cane takes a lot of knocks over its life, so users can buy reflective tape and a cane renewal kit to show their cane some TLC and give it a new lease of life.
4. From long sticks to hi-tech devices
Although canes have been used as mobility tools for centuries, the white cane was developed in the early 20th century to increase visibility (seemingly a reaction to the rise in traffic).
Today cane users can choose a specialised cane to help them get around. The no-jab cane has a shock absorber design in the handle that reduces the jolt you feel if your cane gets stuck in a drain or kerb. The All-Terrain Cane is robust and designed for hiking, while its sibling the Urban Xplorer is strong and light and designed for the challenges of urban life. The WeWalk smart cane alerts users to overhead obstacles and is paired with a mobile app to give turn-by-turn navigation assistance.
5. Putting the safety in White Cane Safety Day
Contrary to what some people may think ("We're disabled, Daniel, we're not werewolves"), blind and partially sighted people can be out and about at all times of the day and in all weathers.
A cane light or head torch can make the user easier to see as well as illuminating the path for those with some vision. The Pharos LED cane light clips to your mobility cane and can be recharged between uses.
As we mentioned above, special training is essential to use a mobility cane safely. If you'd like to arrange cane training for yourself or a relative, please contact your local society or Social Services team for assistance. Contact our Helpline for help finding your local service, or go online at Sightline Directory.
6. Sighted non-cane users can make every day a white cane safety day
Sighted people can make a big difference with small changes – here are five things you can do today:
- Be mindful of people using white canes (and guide dogs) and always yield the right-of-way.
- Do what you can to improve accessibility in public spaces – trim back overhanging hedges, put your bins away promptly, advocate for businesses to keep pavements as clear as possible.
- Sign our Accessible Streets Pledge and display a wheelie bin sticker as a simple reminder to return bins to a safe place after collection day.
- In indoor spaces, such as offices and restaurants, tuck your chair in when you leave the table or desk, and don’t leave bags and coats where they become trip hazards.
- Learn how to guide a blind or partially sighted person.
Let’s be safe out there…
