I want to share my experiences and milestones with cane use throughout my life. For many years, I did not see my cane as a tool for independence. I was embarrassed to be seen carrying it and often resisted using it. As a child, I didn’t understand why I was encouraged to carry a stick when no one else did. I didn’t like feeling different, so I would leave my cane behind whenever I could.
Over time, through experience and Orientation and Mobility (O&M) instruction, I began to understand the cane’s true value. That shift changed my life and eventually inspired me to help other people who are blind understand how powerful a cane can be in opening the door to independence, goals, and dreams.
Early Childhood and Learning to Adapt
I became totally blind at the age of two. At the time, there were no local services for blind children, so my mom sought information wherever she could, reading publications and contacting agencies that primarily served blind adults.
While services were being located, I adapted naturally. I learned that if I pushed my 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 echoing floors. Looking back, I realize I was already using a mobility tool and learning how to move independently.
My First Canes
When I was four, my mom took me to an agency that taught blindness skills, including O&M, braille, and daily living skills. Because they didn’t have a cane small enough, my instructor made one, a smooth wooden rod with a rubber grip and a pencil tip. Once I realized that keeping it in front of me helped me avoid obstacles, the cane quickly replaced my Tonka truck.
We even carved my name and a design into the wood, but the cane was heavy. My instructor later modified another cane that was hollow, lightweight, and more like a fishing pole. With that cane, I was soon traveling confidently alongside my kindergarten peers.
Resistance in Elementary School
By third grade, I entered a phase of resistance. I relied heavily on echolocation and knew my school environment well. Although I used my cane during O&M lessons, I intentionally left it behind most of the time. I wanted to fit in with my friends, and carrying a cane made me feel different.
For a short time, I enjoyed using a folding cane. My classmates called it a “Lightsaber.” But the novelty wore off quickly when it attracted more attention than I wanted, and my cane often stayed propped by the classroom door.
Junior High and Learning to Advocate
My transition to junior high marked a turning point. The building was larger, hallways were crowded, and auditory information was harder to use. The day before school started, my O&M instructor oriented me to the layout. Using my cane and my braille schedule, I located each classroom. With every tap of my cane in the empty halls, my confidence grew.
On the first day of school, I used my cane. For the first time, I felt real freedom. I could get anywhere in the building independently.
That confidence was tested when I was called to the counselor’s office and told I should not use my cane in the crowded halls because it “wasn’t safe.” I calmly explained how and why I used my cane and advocated for my right to use it responsibly. After a meeting with my O&M instructor and vision teacher, I was allowed to continue.
That moment became one of my first true experiences of self-advocacy and solidified my commitment to independence.
Motivation to Build Strong Travel Skills
Later, when I began exploring the possibility of getting a guide dog, I learned that strong O&M skills were required before attending training. That conversation motivated me to continue using my cane consistently throughout high school and to keep strengthening my travel skills.
Employment and Confidence
My first job was at a roller 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 the loud music made auditory cues unreliable. Even though I knew the environment well, my cane allowed me to move safely and helped others recognize that I was blind.
College and Understanding True Independence
In college, I worked with a guide dog but always carried and used a folding or telescoping cane. My dog was more of a social icebreaker. People asked his name far more often than they ever asked about my cane. By this point, I valued both tools and no longer worried about public perception.
Around this time, I met another blind student with limited O&M skills who did not use a cane. We talked about how cane use supports true independence, being able to go to an ATM, attend events, or leave when you choose without relying on others. That conversation helped me realize that my experiences could encourage others to see the value of cane travel.
Travel, Sports, and Independence
Using my cane allowed me to travel independently at any time of day. I participated in alpine ski racing and goalball and made my own travel arrangements to competitions across the country. Each trip strengthened my skills and reinforced my confidence.
Becoming an O&M Professional
These experiences led me to pursue a master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility at Western Michigan University. By then, my travel skills were second nature, and I felt prepared to support others as they learned to move safely and independently.
During my O&M internship working 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 a priceless experience.
Where I Am Today
For many years, I saw my cane as something that set me apart. Today, I see it as the tool that helped me build a life of independence, confidence, and opportunity. My experiences as a cane user led me to pursue and earn a master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility and ACVREP certification, and to work alongside others as they discovered their own freedom through travel.
While my certification has since lapsed, 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 my journey has taught me, it is this: the cane does not limit us. When embraced and supported through quality instruction, 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
White Cane Curious? Tap into How People Travel When Blind or Low Vision