If you’ve watched my Instagram Stories, you may know that I’ve been working with my local Vision Support charity to help me navigate the world more easily with my visual processing disorder, Irlen syndrome. I’ll be sharing more about the process and support. But for now, I thought I’d share 4 unexpected benefits of using a long cane.
Photos taken by my mobility officer Andrew. Shared with permission.
The work we were doing on long cane training was disrupted because of the pandemic. We’ve recently been able to resume mobility training. With the emergence of winter and before our training resumed, I wanted to get some practice in with my long cane. Particularly as we decided to try a different length cane (120cm) as I was finding I needed to hold my original one (130cm length) further down the handle to make the length/weight/centre of gravity comfortable.
The long cane has been really helpful for navigating the dark morning nursery run. Unfortunately, our training had to be rescheduled. I’ve continued to practice and have discovered some unexpected benefits of using a long cane. So I thought I’d share them with you!
Big thank you to my rehabilitation officer Andrew for these photos
Unexpected Benefits of Using a Long Cane: Stopping Elise From Walking in Front of Me
Apparently, 3 year olds aren’t able to walk in a straight line. Elise usually walks part of the way to nursery and some, if not all, of the way home. Her attention wanders and despite me telling her numerous times that it’s dangerous to walk in front of my wheelchair (because I have to stop the SmartDrive), it still happens.
When using the long cane, we’ve only had one instance of Elise starting to veer in front of my wheelchair. She then spotted the long cane moving and moved back beside me. Using the long cane has been a physical reminder to her not to walk in front of me. This has made our journeys so much easier. It reduces the amount of energy that the nursery run takes, because I’m not having to concentrate on keeping Elise away from my caster (front) wheels, along with all the other things people have to manage/monitor when walking with a preschooler!
Unexpected Benefits of Using a Long Cane: Managing Fluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lighting is one of the biggest challenges I face when accessing public buildings as someone with photosensitivity.
Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been into very few shops. During the warmer months, when cases were lower, I started to pop to the supermarket for things we’d run out of. Occasionally even for some treats.
When using my long cane in the supermarket, I felt a noticeable reduction in visual fatigue compared to when I didn’t use it. The long cane allowed me to (partly) feel my way around rather than having to strain my eyes/brain trying to focus through the visual snow that’s a constant for me and the flicker of the fluorescent lighting that my brain picks up on.
Check out Alison Hale’s Scotopic Sensitivity animations if you’d like to see an example of how I see things with my visual processing disorder.
*Note: Irlen syndrome is also referred to as scotopic sensitivity syndrome.
Unexpected Benefits of Using a Long Cane: Recovering From Problematic Lighting
I hadn’t realised how much my vision was affected, as well as my basilar type and hemiplegic migraine symptoms until it happened while using my long cane.
I realised this when heading into town to pick up my prescription. Unaware that Christmas lights and market stalls were being set up for the annual light switch on, I saw a strong flash of light. I assumed it was a reflection bouncing off a moving car. 10 seconds later there was another one.
When this happens, my brain goes into ‘loading mode’. Like when a computer gets stuck processing something and the icon (whichever one your software has) just whirs round and round and round and round, not being able to do anything.
On this occasion, I was using my long cane. Because the long cane reduces the visual concentration and strain, when my brain started to come ‘back online’ I was able to move away. Doing this with the long cane, being able to supplement what I could see with the feedback that the long cane gives me – the feel of the cane moving along the path and the sound it makes – I realised how distorted my vision becomes when I experience problematic lighting. Previously I’ve had to put the (limited) focus I had into seeing to get away from problematic lighting safely. So I hadn’t had the capacity to realise how much my vision is affected when I’m exposed to problematic lighting.
Unexpected Benefits of Using a Long Cane: People Giving Me Space
You’d think that, being a wheelchair user, the general public would give me space to maneuver. Some do, but there are a lot who don’t. My wheelchair setup is amazing, thanks to the wonderful people who supported our SmartDrive fundraiser. This life changing power add-on allows me to do so much independently that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. But, shrinking to fit through spaces that are too small aren’t yet features that are available.
Since I’ve been out practicing with my long cane, I’ve noticed that more people give me extra space in places that otherwise they might not. It’s made moving around much easier. Particularly where there are obstacles that can be really challenging and sometimes dangerous for a wheelchair user. Like cracks in concrete, lifted paving stones, slanted paths, etc. With people giving me space, I’m able to navigate round obstacles more often rather than having to struggle or have the “it’s easier if you go first” type conversation. I’ve found that some able people take (and express their) offence at their ‘help’ being rejected. While these kind of interactions are in the minority, I find them really threatening, setting off my (now) complex PTSD symptoms.
Do you use a long cane? What unexpected benefits have you found?
If you’ve any questions about my experiences of using a long cane, let me know in the comments!
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