AIBU to feel like a fraud using a white stick?

I can sympathise with where you’re coming from. I have progressive MS and advised to use walking stick and have recently been granted a blue badge.

Part of me can’t really accept the need to use these. I tell myself I’m fine at home - even though “fine” is shuffling through the house, clinging onto furniture, then being too nervous to leave the house in case I fall over.

When I was talking to the union rep about possible reasonable adjustments at work, she did say that “imposter syndrome” was a thing that people learning to live with new conditions sometimes go through and to be more willing to accept offers of help.

It is difficult though, as accepting help feels like more of an acknowledgment of losing independence

Take whatever helps - you’ve been dealt a shit hand and are visually impaired to a pretty large degree- you are not a fraud

Accept the help and book assistance where available - it's there for that very reason. I appreciate it's hard when you're used to independence, but try to view the support as maintaining your independence x

My little one is registered blind, he has some vision but it's not useful vision. His is a CVI which means the neurological pathways between his (healthy looking) eyes and his brain don't work so although he 'sees' his brain can't interrupt the signals. Lots of people tell me he 'doesn't look blind' but he is so I do understand a little of your frustrations. Use the white stick if you find it helpful and sod what strangers think.

What is the vision currently in both your eyes? When you had your cataract op, did they fit a corrective lens? If your doc and visual impairment team have recommended the use of a white cane (and trained you how to use it) I would use it if it makes you feel more comfortable. Many visually impaired people use them, even if not all the time. You don't need to to be registered blind. I'm partially sighted and use mine in the dark or when I'm somewhere unfamiliar. There's no shame in it - it's just a helpful tool.

And it’s a visual aid for others - it tells them to give you more space and not crowd you out / or expect you to move out of their way.

In a similar way after getting a metal knee - the physio urged me not to give up using a stick too soon (because it was a visual aid - people in crowded spaces were giving me more room as I couldn’t physically move out of their way if they walked into or “at” me and they were otherwise expecting me to get out of their way.

Exactly. I'm a teacher of the deaf and we have teachers of the VI on our team too. I've come to understand that part of the reason for using a cane is so that other people know you're vision impaired too and make reasonable adjustments.

Interestingly, the technical term for deafness isn't hearing impaired as that's considered too negative. But impairment is the term when it's vision.

The stick will also make your difficulties obvious to others which would be of huge benefit in the event of something dangerous happening or just allowing you more time to do something.

So the technical term for blindness these days is visual impairment. There is a huge range amongst visually impaired people as there are a whole host of conditions affecting sight. A very small percentage can't see anything at, some can see light/dark, some have distorted or partially blocked vision, some can't make out detail. As you have been given a white stick to help you to move safely when you have limited vision, albeit not as bad as some, you are not a fraud. It's fine.

I don’t really understand people who need further validation after being medically assessed and treated. Why do you need strangers to vote on whether or not you need a medical aid provided to you, by medics?

Most blind people have some level of vision and using a white cane is an aid to make life easier. It will make your life easier so you should use it.

of all the things someone could use that they don’t need I can’t imagine a white cane is high up the list

Use it. You wouldn’t tell someone hearing impaired but not d/Deaf that they shouldn’t use hearing aids or put the subtitles on. You’re not a fraud at all!

Why do you feel it’s ok to use glasses but not a stick? Both are aids you use for sight. If you need it then use it.

You’re not a fraud if you’re doing what your Dr told you, and the stick helps you manage getting out and about

Do you think using the white stick will benefit you?