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Hi Julie!? I always recommend that the client go to a PT (funded either by insurance if prescribed by a doctor, or the agency that is paying for my services).? They are the only ones qualified to assess and address the problem (balance or weakness or dizziness or whatever) that seems to suggest the need for a support cane.?

Then I work with the PT and the client, so the 3 of us can work out strategies to both probe ahead to see what's on the ground, and provide support.? There are examples of using a support and a long white cane and Scott Crawford has a wealth of information in his APH material.

I worked with a woman last summer who is blind and had learned to use a long white cane and now needed a cane for support.? She had a support cane but hadn't learned how to use it, so the PT showed her how to use it and she got to the second level of learning the cane (she could do it but only when concentrating).??

She then very quickly learned to use the white cane with the support cane but as she was walking she asked me to hold her for support, and I realized that before incorporating the white cane, she needed to get skilled with and rely on the support cane, and after that we introduced the long white cane and she did well.? I videotaped the process and some day will get it ready to post.

Those of you working with older individuals who have low vision … how do you approach it when they need a support cane, but do not have one or a PT. What do you do?

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Also, are any of you “fall prevention” certified? If so, what program did you do?

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Julie Henry

O&M Specialist

411 W. Front | Tyler, TX | 75702

O: 903.590.4356

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