Guest Post  My White Cane: Hariotte Ranvig

"I lost my sight so gradually, as an extrovert, I had no problem asking for assistance while traveling. Consequently, I only learned to use a white cane when I moved to Chicago for an internship at The Chicago Lighthouse. A year later, I traveled alone by boat to Europe and by train to Germany where I would be a student in the regular German University. Even though I did not have extensive cane travel training, I was able to navigate the old irregular streets to attend classes and shop for food. My cane has two rewards for me. 1. I'm able to travel wherever I wish. 2. Equally important, when I need support out and about, it is easy to ask for. In essence, using my white cane creates meaningful social opportunities."

Hariotte Ranvig, Somerville