P.S.? Many years ago, I had lots of clients with low vision who
had been given a white support cane (long story!).? All of them
expressed the need for a support cane for balance but when they
tried walking without it, it turns out that they had just learned
to rely on it, they had no more need for support than anyone
else.? That was an eye-opener for me.
So if your client is expressing the need for support, make sure
it's not just because someone gave her a white support cane and
she thinks that's how she should walk.? Again, an assessment by a
PT can be very helpful.? And it may be that the PT will determine
that a support cane isn't enough.?
On 1/12/2024 6:36 PM, Dona Sauerburger
wrote:
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.
On 1/12/2024 5:31 PM, Julie Henry
wrote:
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?
?
Also, are any of you ¡°fall prevention¡±
certified? If so, what program did you do?
?
Julie Henry
O&M
Specialist
411 W.
Front | Tyler, TX | 75702
O:
903.590.4356
?
?
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
--
-- Dona
-------------------------------
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
