One of the most important blind skills to learn is how to travel. There are many things to consider in navigation from the cane you use to your surroundings. Once you have the ability to figure out where you are and where to go, you can travel independently with little help.
The first element of travel is the cane you use. One cane does not fold however is much more durable and lasts longer. The other kind is folding so it makes it easier to store in a car or while sitting in general. However, there are instances where the elastic band breaks inside causing the cane to fall apart. What should be considered with both these kinds of canes is do you prefer one that is durable and hard to store or one that is more compact but may fall apart.
When you have chosen your cane, the first thing to learn is how to swing it. Start by holding the cane right in front of where your belt buckle would be. When you step forward with your right foot you will swing to the left. When stepping with the left foot, you will swing to the right. This swinging pattern ensures that you will tap objects with your cane before you run into them.
Now that you know the basics of swinging the cane, it is important to learn a few strategies to find your destination. One of the first techniques to learn is called shorelining. When you find a wall, you will then walk along the side of it. While you do so, tap the wall every time you swing towards it. This will ensure that you have something to follow and do not veer.
Now that you understand the basics of swinging the cane, there are a few techniques to learn for knowing where to go. A useful way to find your destination is with sound around you. When you have nothing to shoreline, but have lots of noise near by, you can listen to it and with the sound on one side, you can listen to how far away it is and stay at that same distance while walking forward.
When you have become familiar with these travel techniques you will have the ability to find any destination. Using both sound and surroundings that you can touch, will help you identify where you need to go. With practice, the skills that it takes to travel without sight will become natural.