Use of the Sonicguide™ and Laser Cane in Obtaining or Keeping Employment

When a questionnaire was sent to 28 Laser Cane and 106 Sonicguide™ owners to determine whether these devices were used in employment situations, 94 (70 percent) returned it. The questionnaire yielded information concerning job title, years of experience with the device, purposes for which the device is used, and the owner's attitude toward the device. The results of the survey indicated that 74 respondents were still using their electronic travel aids: 36 percent of them used the devices to travel to and from work, and almost half (49 percent) used them on the job. The authors conclude that it would be inappropriate at this time to consider either device as particularly useful or necessary for employment-related activities.