Things no one warned me about using a cane for the first time:
1) You are most certainly going to end up tripping yourself with it.
Yes, it will be embarrassing. But also a little funny. Just pretend it didnât happen, eventually itâs gonna happen less often.
2) if you carry a purse, carry it on the OPPOSITE side you use the cane on.
If you donât your bag will end up thunking against the cane. Itâs weird.
3) Speaking of carrying things; it might seem obvious but your carrying capacity is now reduced to one hand (and your mouth).
This is why I carry a purse.
4) You should keep hand sanitizer with you.
Bathrooms donât usually have hand sanitizer in the stall, and to get OUt of the bathroom to wash your hands, you need to touch the cane (with possibly dirty hands!). Hand sanitizer your hands in the bathroom stall, then go and actually wash them in the sink so no one judges you.
5) Okay I was âpreparedâ for this one, but people WILL stare.
And touch. And ask really, really invasive questions. Such as âwhatâs wrong with you?â or âhowâd you hurt yourselfâ. Some people might try to âhelpâ by moving you/your cane.
Feel free to smack them. With the cane.
6) When you see other disabled folk in public you WILL have a momentâąïž
Bonus points if youâre the same age. Or have the same cane. Itâs a spiritual connection.
And lastly, and the most annoying
7) CANES JUST WANNA FALL OVER!
no matter what you do, no matter how securely you think youâve rested your cane, it WILL fall to the ground. Loudly. During the worst moments. Canes sense fear and they have zero mercy.
gracieabrams
blakekathryn
discoholicmusic
