Long white cane near WDW?

[Jenheartsdisney]

I'm in Disney now and I brought my long white cane with me from the UK. In the Magic kingdom today I was crossing a busy walkway when an ECV came speeding out of nowhere, hit my other half and drove over my cane damaging the bottom.

I knew something wasn't right but thought maybe the elastic had burst so we brought it back to the room thinking we can use my spare elastic to fix it but the actual cane is split and can't be fixed.

Does anyone know where I can buy or have repaired a 4' collapsible long white cane with a marshmallow end?

 

[SueM in MN]

So sorry to hear.
This organization does mobility training for people with visual disabilities and could probably help you:
Lighthouse Central Florida!
215 East New Hampshire Street
Orlando, FL 32804
Phone: (407) 898-2483
Fax: (407) 898-0236

also, the Concierge desk at your resort might be able to help.

Good luck.

 

[ttintagel]

Yikes! Thanks for the info, Sue; I had determined to get an ID cane for my next trip, but I hadn't even considered the possibility of an accident like this! Now that I think about it, it seems fairly likely, and it may be worth the extra expense of buying a spare cane for backup.

 

[Jenheartsdisney]

Thanks Sue, we managed to get a new cane with the right spec, my own one is beyond help. My other half picked it up this morning but now I'm stuck in the room while this storm passes.

 

[Jenheartsdisney]

If you are taking a cane I would take a long cane rather than an ID cane. In addition to the accident above I also got jostled about pretty bad, had several ECVs ram into me from behind and a woman who shrieked at a cast member that "(she) isn't really blind, blind people don't wear glasses" - make of that what you will!

My ID cane is a lot thinner than my long cane and it would have never held up at WDW in thanksgiving crowds - it might be enough if you're touring at a quieter time of the year.

 

[Joe Dirt]

My last 3 trips I used a ID Cane. I am visually impaired not totally blind. It helped a lot. My last trip in November I took along a spare just in case. I got my canes from overstock.com and a blinking red light that I use at night from MaxiAids.com. The blinking red light is mounted to the bottom of my cane. I don't know Florida law but in my state it is against the law to use a white cane unless you are totally or legally blind. Hope this helps someone.

 

[ttintagel]

If you are taking a cane I would take a long cane rather than an ID cane. In addition to the accident above I also got jostled about pretty bad, had several ECVs ram into me from behind and a woman who shrieked at a cast member that "(she) isn't really blind, blind people don't wear glasses" - make of that what you will!

My ID cane is a lot thinner than my long cane and it would have never held up at WDW in thanksgiving crowds - it might be enough if you're touring at a quieter time of the year.

I don't know about the law, but I do know that the only organization in my area that does cane training won't train you unless you're legally blind (which I'm not). I assumed that a long cane would be too hard to use without training - am I assuming too much?

 

[Jenheartsdisney]

I learned when I was still registered partially sighted (VA 6/30, 6/30 50% field defect), logic here is the younger you learn the easier you pick it up. I'm legally blind as per UK standards and couldn't function without my cane abroad - even if the law there says I'm not blind enough to use it. My current VAs are CF, 6/120 with an 85% field defect. That's with glasses on, without glasses I'm counting fingers right and left.

 

[Joe Dirt]

The Cane I'm talking about is what they call a ID Cane! Take a look at it and you will see how this is much better than a long cane. There is no training required with this cane.

 

[Jenheartsdisney]

It might be easier to use but it gives you no information, it just lets other people know you have a vision defect, a long cane gives you much more information like when you're on Main Street just after wishes it helps to find a kerb, in Epcot it helps with the changes in incline and in animal kingdom the changes in terrain. It also alerts you to moving walkways on dark rides.

It also clears a path in front of you, people tend to stay out of the arch it makes, it helps to alert ECV drivers as the movement of the cane attracts their eyes and helps you to stand out from the masses.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Sorry! I was just trying to give you another option. It works very well for me in Disney.