In October, the Michigan Department of Education – Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO) teamed up with Leader Dogs for the Blind to celebrate White Cane Day in an exciting and meaningful way, by hosting the Fall 2022 Michigan Regional Cane Quest! Cane Quest® is a challenging orientation and mobility (O&M) contest for students in grades 3-12, created by Braille Institute of America. Regional Cane Quest events are held across the country, and contestants are divided into three grade categories: Scouts in grades 3-6, Explorers in grades 7-9, and Trailblazers in grades 10-12.
Thirteen participants competed in the Michigan Regional Cane Quest, representing all three age groups. In the morning, contestants showed off their human guide skills, protective techniques, and cane skills on a course at the Leader Dogs for the Blind campus in Rochester Hills. They also showed their knowledge of directional concepts and safety around vehicles, as well as their ability to use sound for travel. In the afternoon, the Explorers and Trailblazers continued the contest in downtown Rochester, where they demonstrated their ability to cross streets, solicit assistance from the public, use traffic sounds for orientation, negotiate obstacles in the natural setting of a downtown sidewalk, and more.
In addition to the competition, the Michigan Regional Cane Quest offered fun for the whole family. Parents participated in a workshop to learn about how their children can travel independently with a cane, how to repair a broken cane, and how to change the tip on a cane. Siblings spent time playing games and learning about how to be a human guide for their sibling with vision loss. Contestants and their families also had a chance to tour the Leader Dogs for the Blind facility and learn about guide dogs.
This was truly a special day for students and families, as well as the many volunteers, MDE-LIO staff, and Leader Dogs for the Blind staff who worked to make this event happen. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who came from far and near to assist with the event. Without them, this event would not have been possible. Many of these volunteers are adults who are BVI, and they served as excellent role models for participants and family members.
I am also grateful for the parents who supported their children by bringing them to this event and putting their trust in our volunteers. Hearing students’ laughter and comments, seeing the smiles on their faces, and seeing the genuine pride they felt at being able to show off their skills were all priceless moments. These brave students demonstrated that they are determined to go where they want in life, and their commitment to learning independent travel will get them there.
From Beth Brabbs, MDE-LIO Education Consultant