A Deep Dive into Essential White Cane Skills: Constant Contact vs. Two Point Touch

orientation and mobility Oct 07, 2025

As an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialist, my work centers on teaching individuals how to interpret their environment and travel safely and independently. The primary tool often used for this is the white cane, which functions as a sensory extension to detect obstacles, identify textures, and navigate complex spaces. Effective cane use, however, depends on the mastery of specific techniques.

The two foundational cane skills that form the basis of all mobility training are Constant Contact and Two Point Touch. Understanding their differences, applications, and the types of canes best suited for each is essential for anyone involved in visual impairment education.

The Framework for Mobility: The Expanded Core Curriculum

Orientation and Mobility is a critical domain within the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). While the general education core curriculum focuses on academics, the ECC provides the functional life skills that students with vision loss need to achieve independence. O&M instruction is the key that unlocks environmental access.

Proper cane skills are fundamental to this process, providing the learner with:

Protection: The cane's primary safety function is to detect obstacles before the body does, preventing collisions and falls.

Information: The feedback from the cane's tip allows the user to perceive surface changes, identify drop-offs like curbs and stairs, and understand the surrounding terrain.

Efficiency: With reliable environmental information and protection, a user can travel more quickly and with greater confidence.

Constant Contact and Two Point Touch are the two primary techniques use for achieving these results.

Understanding Constant Contact

Constant Contact is exactly what it sounds like: the tip of the cane remains in constant contact with the ground, gliding smoothly from side to side in a sweeping motion.

What is it?
The learner glides the cane back and forth in a continuous arc, ensuring the tip is always touching the ground. This creates an uninterrupted feedback of the surface ahead. The gliding motion provides a rich, detailed stream of tactile and auditory information about the path.

Who is it for?
Constant Contact is typically the first technique taught to new learners, especially younger students. It is the gold standard for:

Beginners: Its continuous feedback is less mentally taxing and helps build a strong conceptual map of the environment.

Complex Environments: When navigating unfamiliar or cluttered areas, the constant feedback is invaluable for detecting subtle changes and hazards.

Slower Travel: It’s ideal for users who are moving at a walking pace and need to process a lot of environmental information.

The Tool: The AFB Style Cane and the Marshmallow Roller Tip
This technique is most often paired with what is commonly known as an "AFB style cane" (named for the American Foundation for the Blind). These canes are typically made of a slightly heavier material like aluminum, which helps keep the tip grounded.

The MVP of the AFB Style Cane is the tip. The most common and effective is the marshmallow roller tip. This large, spherical, or barrel-shaped tip is designed to roll smoothly over cracks and uneven surfaces without getting stuck, making the gliding motion fluid and efficient.

How to Execute Constant Contact Correctly:
Executing this skill properly is crucial for safety. Here are the key components I teach my students:

Grip and Position: The hand holds the cane in a handshake grip, centered in front of the body at the midline position. The arm should be extended but slightly bent and relaxed.

The Arc Width: The cane is swept from side to side, covering a path that is slightly wider than the learner's shoulders. A common mistake is creating an arc that is too wide or too narrow. The goal is to clear the space your body will occupy.

Rhythm and Movement: The cane's movement is synchronized with the learner's steps. The cane glides to the left as the right foot steps forward, and to the right as the left foot steps forward. This is called "In Step" which makes contralateral movement and ensures the space is clear before the foot lands there.

Mastering the Two Point Touch

As a traveler becomes more skilled and confident, they may transition to the Two Point Touch technique. This method is designed for greater speed and efficiency.

What is it?
Instead of a constant glide, the user taps the cane on the ground at the two endpoints of their arc. It’s a rhythmic tap-tap-tap that corresponds with their footsteps, clearing the path ahead.

Who is it for?
Two Point Touch is generally used by more experienced travelers. It is ideal for:

Skilled Users: It requires a higher level of spatial awareness and confidence, as the user is "filling in the gaps" between the taps.

Faster Travel: This technique is lighter on the wrist and allows for a quicker pace, making it perfect for long, clear stretches like sidewalks or hallways.

Familiar Environments: When a user already knows a route well, they don’t need the constant stream of information and can rely on the taps to detect unexpected obstacles.

The Tool: The NFB Style Cane
This technique is almost exclusively paired with a long white cane often called an "NFB style cane" (named for the National Federation for the Blind). These canes are:

Lighter: Often made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, making them easy to lift and tap for extended periods.

Longer: They are typically measured to reach the user's chin or even nose, providing more warning time for obstacles when moving at a faster pace.

Rigid with a Metal Tip: They are not meant to flex, and the small, hard metal tip provides crisp, clear auditory feedback when it strikes the pavement.

How to Execute Two Point Touch Correctly:
The rhythm is everything. The technique is a dance between the feet and the cane:

Position: The grip and midline starting position are the same as Constant Contact.

The Tap: As the right foot steps forward, the cane taps the ground on the left side of the body. As the left foot steps forward, the cane taps on the right.

Staying In-Step: This contralateral rhythm is non-negotiable for safety. The tap must clear the space just before the opposite foot enters it.

A 20% accuracy in cane technique can correlate to only 20% safety, consistency is key.

At a Glance: Constant Contact vs. Two Point Touch

Adapting for All Learners

The world of mobility isn't limited to these two techniques. For students with multiple impairments, a traditional long cane might not be the right solution. This is where adaptive mobility devices come into play. These can include walkers with bumpers or the safe toddles cane, which can be attached to a child who cannot yet maintain a grip. The goal is always the same: to provide sensory information about the path ahead. The choice of device and technique is always a collaborative decision between the O&M specialist, the student, the family, and the educational team.

This brings us to a crucial point for every educator teaching students with visual impairments: your role is vital. An O&M specialist may only see a student for an hour or two a week, that’s maybe 1-2% of their waking life. The other 98% of the time, that student is with you, their family, and their peers. The reinforcement of proper cane use, the encouragement to use it in the hallway, and the understanding of its purpose are what generalize these skills to a lifetime of confident independence.

Choosing the Right Skill for the Journey

It’s not a question of which technique is better, but which one is right for the moment. A skilled cane user might use Two Point Touch to walk quickly down a familiar sidewalk, then immediately switch to Constant Contact to get more detailed information about a busy intersection they need to cross. The choice always depends on three things: the user’s experience, the environment they are in, and what they are trying to accomplish.

A proficient traveler knows exactly which tool to pull out at the right time. For educators and family members, understanding what’s in this toolbox is key. When you appreciate the level of focus and skill required for each technique, you become a more effective advocate and a vital part of a student’s team on their path to independence.

topics covered: cane skills, constant contact, two point touch, white cane, orientation and mobility, constant contact vs two point touch, types of cane skills, visual impairment education, teaching students with visual impairments, expanded core curriculum, O&M specialist resources, AFB style cane, NFB style cane, how to use a white cane, orientation and mobility for children, types of white canes