The cane and the dog

I once asked my friend Cindy to enlighten me about the differences between a dog and a cane. In other words, the advantages and disadvantages. I am primarily a cane user and Cindy is presently a guide dog user and has in the past used a cane. Here are Cindy's perspectives.

If you are a cane user you have to find obstacles with your cane but if you are a guide dog user then your dog will almost always find those obstacles for you and lead you away from them. This certainly helps when there are possible hanging obstacles in the way as one's cane cannot find these but a guide dog can see them and avoid them.

I have found that in some instances, a person with a guide dog gets assistance more quickly than does a person with a cane. A person with a guide dog is more easily noticed than a person with a cane.

For me, I opt for my cane as I find it easier to travel with it and I am more used to it. I have been blind all of my life and I probably would have difficulty trusting my guide dog to tell me where to go and where not to go when picking my way around.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with others. Visit me at www.donnajodhan.com to listen to some of my Detective DJ audio mysteries.