White Cane Types

Angela Delgado - I worked in the hospital for a long time and I always on the computer, and I noticed that I started to see floaters in my eyes, and overall, I just realized that my size view was going, so I'm off balance when I'm walking because I have no peripheral, but I can't legally drive anymore. So they declared me legally blind and visually impaired. They gave me the cane. I had the mobility training. I had the cane inside my rain boots in the closet. It's like, well, I still got a little bit of vision left, so I'm gonna use what I got. I don't want people to know my business. I said, because it's my secret. So the secret was killing me.

Narrator - White canes are built to give you feedback about the surface you're on by helping you feel vibrations and hear changes and sounds, but different canes have different features, and they all have pros and cons depending on where you're going and what you're doing. Working with your orientation and mobility specialist, otherwise known as an o and m specialist, is the best way to find out what works for you and your o and m specialist might even recommend more than one cane to use for different trips. Let's take a look at the different styles of white canes and the different tips available that glide tap or roll along the ground to help you get where you want to go.

There are three basic types of white canes, straight canes, folding canes, and telescoping canes. The term straight cane refers to a cane that doesn't fold up or telescope down to a smaller size. Sometimes it's called a rigid cane, and it's built as one long piece. Straight canes are often made of graphite, fiberglass, or aluminum, so they're lightweight, and that's handy because a lighter weight is easier on your wrist and your arm. A straight cane is often very good at providing feedback about the surface you're on because it's one piece that makes it easier to feel. Bumps, vibrations, and subtle differences in surface texture, like the difference between the sidewalk and the street, but a straight cane doesn't fold up, so it's not as convenient to tuck out of the way when you don't need it.

For example, when you're sitting on a bus or other transportation, or when you're at a restaurant or theater, a folding cane is handy when you do want to tuck it away. Folding canes are made of separate hollow pieces that connect with an elastic band that runs down the middle. As you unfold the cane, the pieces snap into place and when you fold it back up, there's usually an elastic strap to wrap around and hold the sections together. Some folding canes are made of two pieces, so they fold in half, but others have up to eight different sections so they can fold into a smaller bundle that makes them easier to store in a backpack or a handbag, or even to hold in your lap because of the way they're made. A folding cane might provide a little less feedback than a straight cane, but most people find there's not much difference. A telescoping cane is another option that's handy to tuck away. The difference sections slide into each other and when it's closed up, a telescoping cane is smaller than a folding cane.

Sometimes it can even be carried in a pocket. A telescoping cane is usually very light, but it can be less durable than a folding cane or a straight cane, so it might be handier to use as an ID or identification cane. To learn more about the differences between white mobility canes, support canes and ID canes, be sure to check out another workshop in this series that covers the basics. Straight canes, folding canes and telescoping canes all come in different lengths to fit the person who's using them. Your o and m specialist will help you find the right length for you, measuring from the ground to chest height, somewhere between the armpit and the chin. In general, a longer length is helpful for people who like to walk fast. Now let's look at different types of handles or grips. The most common type you'll find is called the golf club grip because it's just like the top of a golf club.

The golf club grip is usually wrapped with soft rubber, and it's flat on one side where your index finger rests. If you're not yet familiar with how to hold and use a cane, check out our workshop on cane techniques for an introduction for training and practice. You'll work with your o and m specialist. Give Hadley a call if you need help finding an o and m specialist. Another type of handle is the leather grip, which can be very durable, and many people like the soft feel and other canes have a smooth foam grip that's lightweight and also feels soft in the hand. Grip styles are really a matter of personal preference, and you can choose which type feels the best to you.

Now let's look at cane tips. Tips come in a variety of styles, and each one has pros and cons for different types of terrain and different techniques. One basic type is called the pencil tip. It's made of white plastic that's shaped like a pencil, just a few inches long, and it has a rounded edge at the bottom. Id canes often use pencil tips because they're lightweight, but a pencil tip can easily get stuck in places that other tips might glide over more smoothly. For example, a crack in the sidewalk. One tip that's made to glide over cracks and other small bumps is called the marshmallow tip because it's about the same size and shape as a marshmallow. The rounded shape lets it glide over cracks and small bumps more smoothly than a pencil tip, and it's lightweight, so it can still be used for moving or tapping the cane. You can also find marshmallow roller tips. These have bearings inside that let them roll left and right on the ground. A marshmallow roller tip is a bit heavier than a regular marshmallow tip, so it's handy for moving the tip back and forth on the ground.

Another type of rolling tip is called the roller ball. It's shaped like a ball, just like the name says, and it's two inches wide. It's a little smaller than a tennis ball. This one is also built for constant contact with the ground, and because it's larger than a marshmallow tip, it's even less likely to get stuck in a crack. So far, we've talked about cane tips that are made of plastic, but another type is the metal tip. This tip has a disc that's about the size of a quarter with rounded edges. It looks a lot like the metal tip you might find on the bottom of a chair leg. A metal tip is lightweight and it's made to glide over cracks more easily than a pencil tip. It also gives more audio feedback than plastic. All of these tips are made to fit the different types of canes, and they can be changed to match the terrain and your needs or replaced as they start to wear.

We've talked about the standard types of canes and tips, but there are specialty canes and tips too. Some light up. Some are built for rugged terrain and some use technology to give you more feedback about your surroundings.

Angela Delgado - My daughter came by to see me. She said, mommy, why you don't you take your cane with you? And when she said that it, it was a light bulb went off in my head. It's not like I don't have a cane and a brand new cane just in the closet in my rain boots. She said, this would help you so much. And then I started crying because it made me realize that the only person that was embarrassed of my vision loss was me. And I thought that they didn't wanna be around me, and they was more worried about me not using the cane, you know? And I didn't know that, but when we went to the mall, I had the cane out and I would every, it just fit me. Everything just happened. So naturally that was the best thing I ever did.