Canes can come with, or be fitted with a myriad of tips for different feels when walking. People often name their canes, and sometimes decorate them. Most good travellers are loath to part with them for any reason. The cane becomes an extension of the arm after using it awhile. The white cane is a distinct hallmark unique to the blind, and is imbedded in a complex culture.
Braille is a unique form of written communication.
It can sort of be compared to sign language in the deaf community, in that for the blind, Braille is a means of gaining information, and is a substitute for a more common form of communication. This need for an alternative medium creates a community within a community. This is completely unique to this disability group. No other group as a rule reads Braille as a source of information. This has created standards in the Braille industry and supply and demand currents where books are Brailled.