One Way To Ignite A Child's Interest In Using A White Cane
If a child (or an adult), has never encountered anyone using a white cane, I would suspect they don’t know much about it or how it’s used. Here is one way to ignite some interest and start the white cane conversation.
As one of the family support gals with the TSBVI Outreach team, I get to call it my job doing what I love – supporting families and watching them lead us into some pretty awesome systems improvement. Ialso spend some time away from TSBVI doing something else I’m pretty passionate about – teaching Orientation & Mobility (O&M) to people of all ages. There is something really cool about witnessing people become confident travelers, especially when you get to see all their hard work pay off by improving their safety and independence.
Recently, I had the pleasure of working with a young lady who had such joy for life and for her independence that she often broke out in a little dance when she learned a new environment. Her enthusiasm was great to watch but she was never content to dance alone, she often grabbed me and invited me to dance alongside her. It was so much fun, especially the follow-up conversations with other pedestrians interested in our little celebration. While I believe she was born with a natural bent towards being enthusiastic and independent, I also know a lot of it came from growing up in a family that encouraged such character traits.
Today, I saw a YouTube video of Precious Perez singing a rendition of a Taylor Swift song about her cane. This young lady can sing and her message is powerful – she will never, ever live without her cane ! Why? Because she figured out that is one of her tools for independence. Want to find a fun, creative way to encourage your child to feel proud about using his or her cane? This is a great one to share (Video below)! Want to see other fabulous YouTube videos to inspire your family to start a conversation about the white cane? Discuss O&M training opportunities and learn to bring/use that cane everywhere? Check these videos out!
- Watch me go!!! Blind preschooler uses cane
- 4 Year Old Gavin Using His White Cane To Navigate Down a Curb Independent
- Blind 2 yr old, Ellie trying out her new white cane skills
- How blind people Use a White Cane – Tommy Edison
- How a Blind Person Uses a Cane – BreakingBlind
- White Cane Rap Song
- I Will Never Ever Live Without My Cane: The Music Video | Precious Perez
- White Cane Day 2015 – BLENNZ Music School Original Song
- The White Cane Song by Melissa and Larry Beahm
GGB Note: I added a few videos to the list above!
This blog was originally published on the Texas School for The Blind and Visually Impaired website.
2 Comments on “One Way To Ignite A Child's Interest In Using A White Cane”
Leave a Reply
Hello! Here is a little about me. I am a mom of two fantastic kids, group fitness instructor, transformational speaker, blogger, podcaster, and advocate in beautiful San Diego, CA. Oh, and as my website name would suggest, I am also legally blind. Yes, I’m a Girl Gone Blind — and I’m here to tell you all about it!
Girl Gone Blind 
Love this. These videos helped me as a 40-something year old “child” to adapt to using a white cane.
LikeLike
Hi!!! I have always love the content on your blog, and for this reason I have nominated you for the ‘Blogger Recognition Award’ so congratulations!!! Please find the rules on what to do next in the link below. Please continue to write your blog as you do an incredible job and your work is loved by many, Chloe xxx
http://cpstudentblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/blogger-recognition-award.html
LikeLike