White Canes Assist Visually Impaired

Cane Quest is a fun Orientation & Mobility program designed for students from Pre-K through 12th grade with low to no vision. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) focuses on the skills used to understand and navigate one’s environment safely. Strong O&M skills lay the foundation for independence, confidence, and safety. Cane Quest puts these skills to the test! Whether you’re new to your white cane, a long-time cane user, a guide dog owner, or low vision, Cane Quest is an exciting way to show off your O&M skills and make new friends.

Donate to Cane Quest

Get Ready for 2026 Cane Quest SoCal at the Los Angeles Zoo!

Join us for this family-friendly event on Saturday, October 3, for the SoCal region!

Cane Quest SoCal is your chance to practice O&M skills, explore the zoo, and connect with friends in a supportive and fun environment. More details to follow.

Interested in attending?

Please get in touch with your Youth Specialist or email us at youth@brailleinstitute.org

The main sign of the LA Zoo that is in bold white letters with red outline.

Cane Quest is back! A new season means new adventure and new opportunity for students to put their Orientation & Mobility skills into practice!

Be part of the journey! The Cane Quest season kicks off every October in celebration of Orientation & Mobility Month and runs through April, giving students the opportunity to build confidence, put their skills to the test, and discover just how far they can go.

Cane Quest Fundamentals

Pathfinders (Low Vision)

Low vision students are challenged to use their real-world orientation and mobility skills. By following spoken instructions and using any residual vision, they practice navigating routes just like they would in their daily lives. This not only reinforces crucial techniques but also gives them the confidence they need to move through the world on their own.

Young male child wearing a yellow hooded raincoat walks with white cane.

Wayfarers (Pre-K – 2nd Grade)

Young students perform pre-cane skills such as proprioceptive, tactile and sensory awareness. These skills are necessary for children to be successful independent travelers. Students earn coins along the route as they demonstrate their mastery of these skills.

Mother and young boy with white cane experience a tactile display.

Scouts (Grades 3-6)

Students perform basic skills such as navigating, sound localization, cardinal directions and accessing stairs safely. Students earn coins along the route as they demonstrate their mastery of these skills.

Mom holding childs hand while he uses a cane and does a walking test.

Explorers (Grade 7-9) and Trailblazers (Grades 10-12)

Explorers and Trailblazers are given auditory instructions and challenged to safely complete routes both on campus and out in their community using proper travel techniques and appropriate cane skills.

Students are monitored at all times at the event by certified volunteers. They are accompanied one-on-one by a trained route monitor to ensure they stay safe on the route.

Braille employee helping a young girl get off a Metro bus with a white cane.

List of Regional Cane Quest Events

See our list of nationwide regional events sponsored locally; contact us to add your event!

Regional Events

Regional Coordinator Information

Find all the necessary Cane Quest forms, handbook and information you will need to get started.

Information for Regional Coordinators

Training Materials

Here you will find skills lists, scoring how-tos and a sample agenda for your regional event.

Training Materials

Marketing Toolkit

Spread the word! Cane Quest makes for a great showcase of how important Orientation and Mobility is for the success of visually impaired students. With these tools, reach your community and the media for awareness.

Marketing Toolkit

Southern California Cane Quest 2026:

Saturday, October 3 – at the Los Angeles Zoo! Email us to secure a spot: youth@brailleinstitute.org

2026-2027 Cane Quest Sponsors

Support Cane Quest and help hundreds of kids with blindness or low vision explore the world safely and with confidence.

Donate to Cane Quest

Regional Coordinator Information

Cane Quest Resource Documents

Here you will find all of the necessary Cane Quest® forms and information to get started. If you would like additional information or if you have questions regarding any of the forms, deadlines or other information, please reach out to canequest@brailleinstitute.org.

Official Cane Quest Handbook (PDF)

Agencies who host a regional Cane Quest are given a handbook with detailed instructions on how to plan their own event. All artwork, forms and the contests themselves are provided by Braille Institute at no charge. Please email canequest@brailleinstitute.org for the Official Cane Quest Handbook.

Regional Collateral Order Form

Please complete the following form no later than 3 months before your regional date. Collateral forms will not be accepted after February 1, for the 2027-2028 Cane Quest season. Once completed, the Cane Quest Team will follow up with you to distribute all of your Cane Quest collateral materials.

Fill Out and Submit the 2027-2028 Collateral Order Form

Host Agency:(Required)

Other Event Hosts/ Sponsors, if applicable:

Address of Host Agency:(Required)

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Name of Regional Coordinator (main contact):(Required)

First Last

Phone:(Required)

Email:(Required)

Regional Event Date:(Required)

Please list your host agency's website link & social media handles:

Additional Notes:

Permission Form

Would you like to receive a customized electronic Permission Form (PDF)?(Required)

Yes

No

Note: Many regionals have opted to use digital Permission Forms using platforms like Google Forms, WordPress and Survey Monkey to collect the permission form information. You must make sure you are asking all the questions listed on our standard form, no exceptions. If this is the case, please note this in the “Notes” section below. And select “NO” here.

If not, will you be using a platform such as Google Forms, Microsoft Forms, or SurveyMonkey to collect permission forms?(Required)

Yes

No

Would you like to receive your permission forms in:

English

Spanish

Both

What is your Permission Form due date?

Additional Notes:

Training Materials

Cane Quest is designed to set a high standard of achievement for Orientation & Mobility for blind students. Like any discipline, O&M proficiency takes study and practice. If you are looking for more ways to challenge yourself throughout the year, check out this list of training materials that may help you hone your O&M skills.

Explorer and Trailblazer Skills List (Word with graphics)
Lists the 14 out of the 17 regional mandatory skills for Explorer and Trailblazers.

O&M Scoring Video – Rating Sheet (Word with graphics)

Scouts Scoring Orientation Video – Rating Sheet (Word with graphics)

Sample Cane Quest Agenda (Word with graphics)
A sample Cane Quest Agenda for the day of your regional event.

Marketing Toolkit

The information and files included here are provided so that you can use it to communicate and promote Cane Quest in a manner consistent with the brand identity as developed and owned by Braille Institute. Our brand identity creates a more cohesive way in which we present our programs to others. It is intended to strengthen the power of all related messaging by building a cohesive presence in all that we do. We thank you in advance for taking the time to review this toolkit and follow the brand guidelines for Cane Quest.

Media Outreach

The media advisory press release includes space to add unique details for your event such as a theme, speakers and even a quote from one of your contestants.

Contact media@brailleinstitute.org if you receive media inquiries, and/or to forward published media stories to Braille Institute. Please also share all stories on social media and tag Braille Institute’s profiles on Facebook: @brailleinstitute Twitter: @BrailleInst Instagram: @brailleinstitute with the hashtag #CaneQuest

Media-Advisory (Word)

Logo

By downloading this file you agree to use it in the proportions and colors provided and, to not change the content of the logo in any way.

Cane Quest Logo (png).

Social Media

Social Media Guidelines (Microsoft Word Document)
Facebook Graphic Logo
Facebook Graphic with Caption
Instagram Graphic with Logo
Instagram Graphic with Caption
Instagram/Facebook Story Graphic with Caption