What is white cane Awareness Day?
The National Federation of the Blind celebrates White Cane Awareness Day every year on October 15. For blind people, the white cane is an essential tool that gives us the ability to achieve a full and independent life. It allows us to move freely and safely from place to place—whether it's at work, at school, or around our neighborhoods.
When is white cane day 2021?
Wednesday, October 13th, 2021! What is White Cane Day? The President of the United States annually recognizes White Cane Day by the Blind Americans Equality Day Proclamation on October 15th to acknowledge the abilities of people who are blind and to promote equal opportunities as any other American.
What is a white cane and why is it important?
White canes were introduced in the 1930s as a way of assisting visually impaired pedestrians to travel independently. They also helped motorists identify and yield to people using the white cane, and their use has been protected by law in the United States since that time.
Is it illegal to use a white cane to cross the street?
It’s illegal in some states to use a white cane to achieve right-of-way while crossing a street if you are legally not visually impaired. National White Cane Safety Day was authorized by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be celebrated on October 16th every year!
What is the meaning of White Cane Day?
White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the United States, celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane.
How do people celebrate White Cane Day?
Many White Cane Day celebrations include walks or marches. Often, canes and blindfolds will be provided to those who can see, but who want to participate alongside blind people and experience what it is like to be a blind pedestrian.
How do you qualify for a white cane?
Request a Free White Cane To request a white cane, you can fill out our online application or mail a completed application to our office. Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico can request a cane for their personal use. Requests can be made as often as every six months.
Why do blind people use white canes?
In 1930, Bonham, president of the Peoria Lions Club (Illinois), watched a man who was blind attempting to cross a street. The man's cane was black and motorists couldn't see it, so Bonham proposed painting the cane white with a red stripe to make it more noticeable. The idea quickly caught on around the country.
What should you do if you see a person with a white cane in the middle of the street?
If you are approaching a crosswalk (whether marked or unmarked) or intersection and see an extended white cane, you must stop. Likely, this comes into play if the individual is attempting to walk across the same road you, as the driver, are attempting to cross (such as turning right on red).
What color cane does a blind person use?
However, only a white cane identifies the user as a person who is blind or has low vision. This can be an important consideration when crossing streets and requesting information from store clerks, bus drivers, and the general public.
Who Cannot carry a white cane while walking?
Subdivision 1. Limitation on carrying. It shall be unlawful for any person to carry a white painted cane unless said person is a blind person.
What is a 4 legged cane?
A quad cane is a mobility device that aids walking and mobility. It is similar to a standard cane, but it has a metal base on the bottom with four small feet that extend from the base. These feet have rubber caps that help reduce slippage on the floor.
What is the weight limit for a cane?
You can support up to 25% of your weight with a cane. You can support up to half of your weight with some walkers. Single point canes can help with early balance problems.
What does a blue cane mean?
Blue or yellow added to the white cane signifies that the user is blind or low vision. Small children are trained with colored canes to encourage them to use their cane.
How do you walk with a white cane?
0:555:12How to Walk "In-Step" When Using a White Cane - Orientation & Mobility ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if your cane tip is on the right side of your body your left foot should be the furthest foot inMoreSo if your cane tip is on the right side of your body your left foot should be the furthest foot in front of you and vice versa.
Does a white cane have to be white?
Different Colors on White Cane An all-white cane means that the user is completely blind and has no usable vision. A white cane with a red bottom means that the user has low, but some usable vision. A white and red striped cane means that the user is totally blind and/or deaf.
How is White Night festival celebrated?
During the festival, there are daily evening performances at the Mariinsky Theatre (either ballet or opera) and almost daily evening performances at the Mariinsky Concert Hall (either classical concert or opera-in-concert). Usually evening performances start at 7 pm, but sometimes may also start at 6 pm or 8 pm.
What do you do on National Candy cane day?
With beginnings in 17th-century Germany, these sweet treats were curved to represent the shepherds' crooks....National Candy Cane Day ActivitiesAdd some candy canes to your hot chocolate. ... Make peppermint bark. ... Stock up for next year.
Why do we celebrate White Day?
White Day is the day when a man who received chocolates on Valentine's Day gives back a gift of sweets to the person that gave them to him. On Valentine's Day in Japan, women usually give chocolates gifts to the men they love or appreciate. There is no exchange of presents.
Where do they celebrate White Day?
On March 14, in Japan, Taiwan and even South Korea, people will be celebrating a kind of second Valentine's Day, known as White Day. While Valentine's Day in the West is a give-and-receive event, where couples exchange chocolates and gifts, it works a bit differently in Japan and other countries.
What does it mean when a white cane has a red tip?
If you see a person carrying a white cane that has a red tip it means that the person is deafblind — both deaf and blind. A completely white cane m...
Can white canes be taken on an airplane?
Yes. It is legal to carry a white cane on an airplane but only after it has been screened by the X-ray machine.
What are white canes made of?
To make the white canes lightweight and durable, materials like aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber are used to manufacture them.
When was white cane first used?
White canes were introduced in the 1930s as a way of assisting visually impaired pedestrians to travel independently. They also helped motorists identify and yield to people using the white cane, and their use has been protected by law in the United States since that time. White Cane Safety Day, October 15, was established in 1964 by President ...
Can you honk at people with a white cane?
Avoid honking at individuals using a white cane. People who are blind or visually impaired have no idea why you are honking.
When was White Cane Safety Day?
On October 6, 1964 , President Lyndon B. Johnson and the U.S. Congress signed a joint resolution and proclaimed that October 15 be celebrated as White Cane Safety Day every year.
What does it mean when you see a white cane?
If you see a person carrying a white cane that has a red tip it means that the person is deafblind — both deaf and blind. A completely white cane means visual impairment only.
Why does James Biggs paint his cane white?
James Biggs, a blind man from Bristol, paints his cane white so that he is more noticeable to motorists.
What is the standard cane for?
There is the standard cane for navigation, the support cane for mobility, and the I.D. cane for people with partial sight.
Who was the blind person who handed over white canes?
In France, musician and writer Guilly d’Herbemont launched a scheme for the blind named the National White Stick Movement. She handed over white canes to many blind people throughout France, including WWI veterans. This was well-received in the United Kingdom as well. The United Kingdom proposed that blind people be given white canes and that it be universally recognized as an indicator that the person carrying it was blind.
Who suggested the idea of giving white canes to the blind?
In the United States, it was the Lions Clubs International that suggested the idea of giving white canes to the blind. For the war veterans, the long white canes not only acted as an identifier but also as a tool used for mobility.
Can you carry a white cane on an airplane?
Yes. It is legal to carry a white cane on an airplane but only after it has been screened by the X-ray machine.
What is the white cane?
A long white cane, the symbol of White Cane Safety Day. White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the United States, celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, ...
Who signed the White Cane Safety Day Proclamation?
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first White Cane Safety Day proclamation within hours of the passage of the joint resolution . In 2011, White Cane Safety Day was also named Blind Americans Equality Day by President Barack Obama.
Why National White Cane Safety Day?
A white cane is an important tool to aid the blind and the visually impaired people to move and navigate. It also serves as a symbol to help others acknowledge visually impaired people around them.
What is a white cane?
White canes come in three types. A standard mobility cane to navigate, a support cane for navigation and mobility, and the foldable ID cane are used by people with partial sight.
Why is white cane important?
A white cane is an important tool to aid the blind and the visually impaired people to move and navigate. It also serves as a symbol to help others acknowledge visually impaired people around them. The National White Cane Safety Day, founded by President Lyndon B. Johnson has been celebrated as a federal holiday since 1968 only with different names.
Who suggested white canes with red stripes?
Thanks to George A Bonham, white-colored canes with red stripes were first suggested by him when he witnessed a man trying to cross a street with his black cane and motorists were unable to notice it.
How far can a cane detect obstacles?
Today high-tech canes are being designed with ultrasonic devices that can detect obstacles up to nine feet away and give vibrations to the cane user to warn of potential hazards in their path.
What is White Cane Day?
The President of the United States annually recognizes White Cane Day by the Blind Americans Equality Day Proclamation on October 15th to acknowledge the abilities of people who are blind and to promote equal opportunities as any other American.
Mission of White Cane Day Austin
The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities, to celebrate the abilities and successes achieved by blind people in a sighted world and to honor the many contributions being made by the blind and visually impaired.
Purpose
Each year the Austin community comes together for an event to celebrate this exciting day. And now that we will be doing a live and virtual event simultaneously, it promises to be bigger and better than ever, so tell your friends and come have some fun!
