Guiding Blind: Mobility Canes - White Cane Technique - Constant Contact, Episode 5
Last in our series about mobility canes is a look at the actual use of the white cane and the difference between 2-point touch vs. Constant Contact.2-point touch involves moving the cane in an arc from side to side, tapping it once on each side. A variation of this is "Constant Contact" in which the cane tip ALWAYS remains on the ground.
A summary of the advantages of Constant Contact includes:
- Lot better chance of detecting drop-offs
- Less wrist and arm fatigue
- Better job of terrain input
- Helps eliminate the noise of 2-point touch (tapping)
- Helps eliminate the risk of cane tip bouncing too high (which can cause tripping hazard).
On the flip side, using the Constant Contact technique, your cane may get stuck more frequently and it, also, can be a bit slower.
If you do decide to try the Constant Contact technique, using a marshmallow roller tip or roller ball tip will work better.
What do you prefer?
IMPORTANT NOTE: Videos are informational only and DO NOT take the place of formal training on using your white cane. If you are in need of training, contact SDCB.
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