White Cane Safety Day

Throughout the world, the long white cane is used by people who are blind or visually impaired as a tool for safe and reliable navigation.  The white cane is a symbol of the user’s skills and talents, mobility and independence.  It also allows the sighted person to recognize that the user is visually impaired.

The white cane was initially developed and put into use as a measure of safety, especially in traffic situations.  Sufficient training with an Orientation and Mobility specialist can aid in successful cane use, technique and safety.   Several countries have traffic laws designed to protect the person using the white cane.   The “VisionAware” section of the American Foundation for the Blind’s website illustrates several types of white canes that are internationally recognized.  Sometimes the white cane has a red band or strip for the purpose of contrast.

International White Cane Safety Day (October 15th) gives Lions an opportunity to increase awareness of the white cane traffic safety laws.  According to the World Blind Union, which is a global organization representing the 285 million blind or partially sighted people worldwide, “White Cane Day is observed worldwide to recognize the movement of blind people from dependency to full participation in society.”

Suggested Activities for Lions

Mobilize your club to partner with local blindness experts, schools and organizations for the blind to plan your International White Cane Safety Day awareness activity. 

• Arrange for a person who is blind to demonstrate the use of the white cane and its benefits, and share his or her accomplishments and aspirations with the community or your club.
• Invite a representative from a local school for the blind or a low vision clinic to speak about white cane, orientation and mobility and white cane laws in your community.
• Work with your local government officials to create a White Cane Safety Day Proclamation for your event.
• Work with local news media to convey your community’s white cane laws to the public.

Don't forget to report your service.

Resources

• Free White Cane (in the USA) – the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) offers a long white cane to people in the USA who are blind.
• White Cane Fact Sheet (History of the White Cane)
• Publicize your event (Marketing Communications Chairperson Guide)