Should you give a young learner an NFB Cane?
Jun 22, 2021
My friends, summer has officially kicked in, and I’m absolutely loving it! The weather’s warmer, the days are longer, and I’m ready to share something a little unconventional with you all. I’ve got an unpopular opinion that might challenge some of the thinking around teaching young learners in orientation and mobility.
In this episode, we're diving into a big question: should young learners be given an NFB cane? There are a lot of different perspectives on this, and I’ll be sharing my own experience and viewpoint on the matter. Is it always the right choice? What benefits or challenges might it bring? Let’s unpack that together.
The Structured Discovery Approach
As we dig into the NFB cane discussion, we’ll also talk about structured discovery. Should young learners be taught using this method? Is it a beneficial way to teach, or do we need to modify it to fit younger learners’ needs? I’ll share some stories from my experiences and provide insights on how I approach this process.
The Blindfold: Necessary or Not?
Now, here’s where things get a little tricky. Should we blindfold young learners in order to teach them cane skills? The idea of blindfolding is something that’s often debated in the field, and I have some thoughts on how and when it can be effective—or if it might be a step too far for younger students.
How I Would Approach It
We’ll break everything down and I’ll walk you through how I would approach these topics with younger learners. I’ve had both successes and challenges with this, so I’ll be sharing the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Curious to learn more about these topics and hear my perspective? Tune in now!
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