Two-year-old toddlers with mobility visual impairment and blindness may resist wearing canes, but the more they wear their canes the more they move freely and explore.
Two-year-old belt cane users
Matias has Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). He is blind. Before the belt cane, he had no effective mobility tool. He pushes large, heavy chairs to cross open space. In the playroom, his solitary play is stationary moving only when in contact with objects. Before belt cane, he did not cross open space outside without a guide. His family documented his success and self-confidence by wearing his belt cane.
Videos
First year
Second year
Charna is blind. She was one of the first users of the belt cane, beginning in March 2018 when she was two years old. We see her begin with a lot of tears and transition to a regular belt cane user. These videos track her usage over one year.
The first belt cane was too long, but she wore it well. We watch how she learns to stand up wearing it. We hear her language develop. We see her independence, confidence and abilities grow. She changes from a child who is lost to one who is just one of the family.
Charna videos in order April 2018 thru June 2019.
Maddox has a mobility visual impairment. His best vision is achieved when he tilts his head back. This eccentric viewing is problematic for him without a cane. When he is seen walking around his home without a cane, his pace is slow and seeking to be picked up, his affect is "whiny".
Overtime wearing the belt cane, he no longer asks to be picked up, his affect is positive as his self confidence improves. He is seen walking freely with an age-appropriate posture, pace and gait. He has found a way to tilt his head back while walking wearing his belt cane.
Audrey has cortical visual impairment. She was 29 months old when she received her first belt cane. She lives in the United Kingdom. Her motor skills are limited to walking with assistance. Her family is hopeful that wearing her belt cane will enable her to develop the confidence and muscle strength she needs to walk on her own.
Jaxon's tunnel vision causes many to under-estimate his mobility visual impairment. His family obtained the belt cane because he was walking right off of curbs, staircases, and these incidents were growing more frequent and were negatively impacting his self-confidence.
Videos
Jaxon has optic nerve hypoplasia, he is severely visually impaired and he exhibits severe cognitive and motor delays.
He uses his belt cane during his physical therapy session with his physical therapy assistant.
Even though he is unable to walk on his own, his mobility visual impairment means he needs tactile feedback from the belt cane whenever he does walking therapy.
Two-year-old on waiting list
Kai (33 months) can sit up and stand but is not walking without support yet.
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Vision: Completely blind.
Play: Sit and play will stand with support and jump
Learning ability: developmentally delayed.
Reason for belt cane "His vision therapist is trained in teaching with this cane and highly suggested it. She believes it will help him be more confident in walking without support.."
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