Yes, sometimes when I was just trying to find markers I used to find my way people thought I was mixed up. Also once when I was having cane training on the street, the instructor using a cane or guide dog herself, there were two women stood talking just at a corner of a building. We said "excuse me" because I was following the wall, and they thought we needed help getting around the corner of the building.

I have also got something to say about this issue. I'm in a working environment. At the beginning of the year we moved offices and I used my cane to help me learn the passages of the building. Now, I must say, I don't like a white cane! It's sound iritates me. Now that I know the building, I prefer to walk without my cane, since the tick-tack noise of the thing irritates me. I also think that, since I know the office building, what use is there for a white cane? Now one of the ladies keeps on pressing on me to use the cane, and the more I explain my preference, the more she says: "but you'll get hurt! I mean... It's my preference in life, and I'm better off without the thing than I am with it. Many people struggle to understand why I don't like a cane, But that is due to my father telling me, That cane is a "klad" on your name. I don't know the english word for "klad", so forgive me for that! "Klad", is almost like a bad reputation.

Another reason why I prefer not to walk with a cane is: eg. If I have to go to the bathroom here in the office, I do my things, and go back to my desk. After some time, I realize that I have forgotten my cane in the bathroom. Then, when I go to fetch it, somebody else took it, and placed it where I cannot find it. So then, why must I use a cane if people play tricks on me when I use it? Another thing quickly: Why does screen readers and other blind-related products like braille displays cost an arm and a leg? Couldn't they drop the price a bit? Since I live in South Africa, the devices and programs' costs are worked out on the Rand/Dollar exchange rate. So JAWS for instance, costs more than R9,000. I'm also looking for some of the older notetakers, specifically the Braille lite/BNS. But when I asked for the price, they said I must try to get it secondhand. So I contacted friends of mine, and they told me that I could get it but that it would cost me 16,000 rand! Rediculous if you ask me! So I went back to our vender for blind-related products here in SA and asked about FS's Pacmate PDA's. They told me I'll have to pay R42,000! It's 10 times more expensive than my laptop!

I really don't use my cane in familiar places, and as someone else said earlier in this topic, at home i'd be more a hindrance than a help, and I'd probably hit my cat with it the first couple of times i walk with it, because i can't hear where he is. although i must admit I have trouble finding my way around in my school sometimes and am generally not too good at finding my way around in strange or semi-strange places. Although i can walk to school, I plan to get a guide dog as soon as I'm 16 since I've heard you can get them at 16.

Small warning to anyone looking at the ultrasonic canes -
Don't worry about them.

Personally I tried one and found I had crossed a street without noticing on two separate occasions, I was so distracted trying to work it. I also didn't dodge people like I'm accustomed to. Having no useful sight I've been told I'm actually quite good at avoiding people based on their footsteps and so on, but with one of those... ugh no. It was handy indoors in the bank and shops perhaps, but it isn't worth the cost just for that.

Sorry to disagree Cx2, but I'm a big fan of the ultracane. the amount of times it's stopped me getting hit by a bollard in a very sensative place are uncountable. the only problem with it, is that it's fine if your out on your own, but if your trying to hold someone's arm it's a bit aukward to carry, it's also not a good idea to stick on the floor. usually when wandering around the city of Durham I take a small shoulder bag, with my Cd player, umbreller and space for my utrlacane should I need to put it away.

i unfortunately couldn't bring it here to the festival in Buxton though, sinse I had my bust desktop to pack and it takes up a deal more space, ---- i do wish i'd had it though, I got a rather bruised knee the other day.

about canes in general, with me, it's like wearing my coat. If I walk outside my flat, (or my hotel), I pick up my cane. it took me virtually seconds to learn my way around the hotel, so no need for it there, but in large places like the opera house (which is hugely crowded, and has many seats and tables and such), it's a necessity if I don't want to end up walking into stuff. i admit though, sinse my spacial sense is so awful, i probably get more use out of my cane. Frequently, i'll see something, but not judge it's position correctly and end up walking into it anyway if I don't have my cane. As cx2 said though, this is all personal preference.

As for it being a stigma or shaming (which is I assume what you mean Tablen), well I can see the point, I get so sick of people asking me if I'm alright when I'm personally fine (often I've given occasionally sharp answers), and especially of people touching me or brushing me with a hand (I really! hate physical contact). Recently I've taken to letting people know this.

people will however work out your visually impared even without a cane, by hand movements and the way you walk and your posture if nothing else visible such as dark glasses or abnormal eyes, so on that score the cane doesn't make a difference.

there are however blind people who take things too far (I've met a couple), who walk around, smacking things loudly with their cane and proclaiming "I'm blind" very loudly. This sort of thing makes me feel sick.

the fact is though, mostly people will notice with or without a cane. as I said earlier, Advocacy is the thing, so people will start treating you as a reasonable human being instead of something that is blind.

Oh Btw, as for the over prices of Vi Tech, there's a very unfortunate reason for this, but it's more to do with the problems of capitalism than anything else, ----- supply and demand!

I too saw one at site village, but as I said, trying it out I did find it helped, ---- all be it with the issues I mentioned of portability and space. i will admit using it properly is a bit of a skill, ----- particularly in a place like the city of Durham where the pavements are very narrow.

Again though, personal preference I think. The people who make ultracanes I found to be very nice, particularly with trials an replacements and such (my first ultracane had batry issues).

in fact generally, I'd advise trying out any vi tech first. I'm looking into getting a trecker gps system, sinse with the amount of wandering around I do it'd be really helpful, but I'm going to request a trial from them first sinse it costs a hell of a lot of money.

Oh, btw, i just had a perfect instance of Vi advocacy. my parents are turning up to this festival, and wrenting a small cottage where I'll be staying for the next week. i said I'd wait for them here in this net pub, accept they are unexpectedly late, and my batteries just ran out. this left me either to A, do nothing for the next hour and a half, or B, ask nicely if i could use a plug for my laptop. i chose option B, and am now sitting in the cubby hole office behind a pool table, next to their own desktop and the wifi net box, with my laptop deffinately plugged in.

Deffinately a case of politeness rewarded.

what is an ultracane?

I think that Ultra-cane will work for me, since then I don't have to tap it to here where I'm going. I also know people that knocks their canes hard against lamp posts, and then, when you ask them why they do it, since it's not necisary? They answer: because I'm blind. Some of them even stick their canes where it can be quite painful. That is, between a person's legs. That is one of the thousand reasons why I cannot stand an ordinary white cane! If they were trained correctly, they wouldn't do sutch things, But most of the times, its people who got blind later in their lives, and didn't have mobility training! But, I think the idea of the Ultra, in stead of the white cane, will suit me better. I wonder if they sell it here in South Africa? If I can lay my hands on one, I'd surely give it a try, before I decide to buy.

Though you are right tablen, in that like anything else you have to considder other people when using a cane,  and smacking them around won't win you any friends.

Fair enough reguarding the ultracane Cx2, as I said, different people prefer different things. As reguards the trecker, apparently they will come out and do personal demonstrations. when I get back to my flat i'll see about arranging one. Spending this couple of weeks in Buxton, living in a B&B and wandering around (going to cafes for meals), etc, has made me realize how useful I'd find one.

About the ultracane, ouch! I'm lucky in that for once the company who make them is actually here in england, ---- in fact I got to know the lady who does Pr for them quite well.

As reguards ensuring air male tablen, one thing ultracane themselves provide is a registration. I know this sinse my old neighbor who was blind left a lot of technology to me and my brother when he died, including an ultracane, which had to actually be reregistered to me (it's handy when i'm at my parent's in nottingham). Perhaps if you E-mail them and have a word, they might be able to find you a better arrangement on post than the extra 1500 rand insurence (which seems bloody high to me, even for air mail).

I believe their address is ultracane.co.uk, I'm not certain though, but googling ultracane should find them.

as for the "Are you alright" thing, yes, it's annoying. I particularly find it annoying when people ask me if I'm alright with stairs, ---- yes, my eyeballs are less than functional, but there's nothing at all wrong with my legs. these days I've actually taken to asking people "why wouldn't I be" and so (hopefully), getting them to think.

How about when you're about to step off the path, and someone with you insists on holding your arm and trying to support you? It feels like they're trying to stop you from stepping down and drives me mad. Alright I might have all the balance of an inebriated goose, but I can still step off a blasted path to cross the road without having to be held up.