Twelve Blindness Cane Storage Solutions

When I was in college, I found out that one of my friends had recently started using a white cane/blindness cane when I tripped over it while walking in the dining hall. Another time I helped a different friend look for their cane after they lost it in their dorm, only to find out it had been accidentally placed in a laundry bin— I had offered to help when I noticed they were having trouble walking back from class and didn’t have their cane with them. Learning how to properly and safely store blindness canes is an important skill for both full-time and part-time cane users that use them for identity or mobility purposes, because it helps prevent damage to the cane or having it disappear in a cluttered environment. Here are twelve blindness cane storage solutions that can be used in a variety of contexts, including some additional “bonus” ideas from other posts.

Unfolded/extended canes

Unfolded and extended canes refer to non-collapsible canes or rigid canes, as well as collapsible canes that are extended in a straight line. Canes come in multiple sizes and are selected based on the individual’s height— below is a collage of some of my canes “in action” that show what an extended cane would look like.

Using removable wall hooks

In my dorm room and office, I have Command hooks on the wall for hanging blindness canes from their elastic. I would have one hook for each cane in my dorm room, and placed the hook for my office on the door.

Hang canes on a coat rack

At home with my family, my canes hang on a coat rack near the door along with my jacket and purse, so I can easily grab both items before heading out the door. One downside is that long jackets can cover the cane, and sometimes I need to take other items off the coat rack so I can grab my cane if something else is on top of them.

Store next to a door or desk

Some of my friends would prop canes next to a door in their classroom or office, leaning them against a wall so that they didn’t tip over. Another option is to create a DIY cane storage area using a desk leg and PVC— I share this tip in my post on making middle school classrooms accessible for low vision students, and have copied an excerpt from this post below.

To give students a place to put their canes, add a piece of PVC pipe to the base of their desk by lifting the desk leg and placing it inside of the PVC. To find the appropriate PVC width, measure the diameter of the cane tip and the desk legs to ensure that the student can slide the cane in and out independently without the cane getting stuck. To find the appropriate height, I recommend measuring the cane and ensuring the pipe covers the bottom 1/3 of the table leg. Most students I have worked with needed a straight PVC pipe around 3 to 4 inches in diameter to accommodate their canes.

Store with umbrellas

Another option for a place with multiple cane users or for storing multiple canes is to use an umbrella stand to corral canes in a central location. One of my friends has multiple blind siblings, and they have an umbrella holder that was painted/customized with handprints from family members to create a fun personal touch. For shorter canes, one option is to add a thin layer of foam to the bottom of the bin so it’s easier to reach items.

Put the cane on the floor

This isn’t a great option for long-term storage by any means, but in classes and lectures my friends will place their cane horizontally on the floor, taking care to avoid walkways or other high-traffic areas where someone could kick or step on the cane by mistake. I also use this strategy for my collapsed/folded canes, placing a cane in family cars in case I need it for traveling.

Rest it against your shoulder

For friends that are in the dining hall, library, or otherwise sitting down, a common strategy is to rest the cane against the shoulder so that it is visible but not in a place where others can trip over it. This is also helpful when I am looking for someone because I can use their cane as an additional visual cue.

Folded/collapsed canes

Some blindness canes and white canes can be collapsed or folded into smaller sections, which can provide additional options for storage. Below is a photo of some of my canes folded into four segments, which measure about 13 inches total (excluding the tip).

Put canes on a shelf

Some of my friends that are part-time cane users prefer to store their canes on a shelf or hutch. This makes it easier to grab a cane and place it in a backpack or locate it before leaving, and also provides a more discreet option so that the cane isn’t as noticeable. One of my friends who is a teacher has students put canes in a cubby/small shelf area.

For individuals with cerebral visual impairment/cortical visual impairment (CVI), I recommend having a high contrast shelf with a colored outline in a preferred color to assist with locating a cane, or using a tactile indicator so the individual can locate their cane.

Store in a drawer

Collapsible canes can be stored in a drawer for quick access, and I would frequently store a spare cane in my desk drawer in college in case something happened to my other canes. To help with making the canes easier to locate, place a tactile dot or other label on the front of the drawer.

Put in a purse/backpack

For my college classes, I place the blindness cane in my backpack or in a water bottle pocket when I sit down for class or for a meeting so that it doesn’t create a tripping hazard.

Putting blindness canes in a suitcase

Packing for a trip? I always bring an extra cane with me and place it in an outside compartment so that I don’t have to empty the entire suitcase to grab it. One of my friends will place their cane between a non-extending handle and the suitcase body to secure the cane in place, which is helpful for carry-on luggage.

Put it behind you in a chair

When I’m playing in band or if I don’t have time to put my cane somewhere else, I fold my cane and place it in my lap or directly behind me in a chair so that I am resting against it. One of my friends will often avoid doing this because they are tempted to fidget/pick at their cane when it is in their lap.

In a seat pouch or desk

Another option for classrooms, flights/train rides, cars, and other desks is to place the cane inside of a seat pouch or desk storage area for convenience. I prefer to keep the cane within my line of sight instead of putting it in a pouch or storage area behind me.

More ideas for storing blindness canes

Wondering why someone wouldn’t need to use a blindness cane all the time? Read Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight
Some cane tips may be too bulky for some of the storage ideas I mention, learn more in Decoding The Tips of Blindness Canes
Curious about why my canes are different colors and not just plain white? Read How To Order Custom Colors for Blindness Canes and Decoding The Colors of Blindness Canes
Want more cane content? Read Orientation and Mobility Archives | O&M Posts

Published April 15, 2019. Updated January 2025

Reference

Lewis, Veronica. (2019). Twelve Blindness Cane Storage Solutions. Veroniiiica. https://veroniiiica.com/twelve-blindness-cane-storage-solutions/ (Accessed on December 20, 2025)