Welcome to the official website for the White Cane Day celebration. Check back often to see what's been added.
From February 7-13, Canada will be recognizing their own White Cane Week. Read more about it from this story called: White Cane Week 2010 from the Disabled World website.
The Braille Awareness Committee at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, in an effort to promote Braille, has designed and is selling some Braille Awareness t-shirts. To read more about them and fill out and online form to be printed and mailed in, go to the official Braille Celebration website. Note the following, which is taken directly from the order form:
Online orders must be made by 5:00 PM central time Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Orders will continue to be taken in person February 11, 2010 thru 5:00 PM central time February 12, 2010. Deadline for all t-shirt orders and payment is 5:00 PM Friday, February 12, 2010. Any orders or payments made after this date will not be processed and money will be returned. No Exceptions.
View an image of the 2009 shirt (PDF download).
The t-shirt will be white with the ink colors being burnt orange, beige and brown.
Front of the shirt:
Starting at the top of the t-shirt moving down
WHITE CANE DAY in burnt orange ink in western style lettering, behind white cane day is a light brown sunburst. Moving down there is a square frame made of barbed wire at the 12 o’clock position 2009 in white surrounded by a burnt orange oblong circle, at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock there are tiny five point stars, in the bottom left hand corner of the frame is a pair of cowboy boots with spurs and a hat. Inside the frame on the left there is an image of two people's legs from below the waist facing inward as if they were walking with their canes extended forward; facing them there is a person and a German Sheppard dog guide in harness facing the people with the canes. The dog guide is in front and the person is behind the dog. Below the frame are the words DOING THE TEXAS TWO TAP in burnt orange ink and western style lettering.
Back of the shirt:
Starting at the top of the t-shirt moving down
Across the top is barbed wire with a five point star in the center, below in burnt orange ink in all caps contracted Braille is the phrase: THE ONLY DISABILITY IS A BAD ATTITUDE, the same phrase in all capitol print is below the Braille in western style lettering also in burnt orange ink, below in the center is a pair of cowboy boots with spurs and a cowboy hat, moving down are the list of sponsors which will be finalized closer to the event, below after the sponsors is the phrase "ready to work, ready to contribute" in contracted Braille.
Below is a list of the media coverage that White Cane Day 2009 received, whether it be local, national, or international. If you know of a media outlet, whetehr it be print, radio/TV, or online, that has done a story on White Cane Day, send an email using the link at the bottom of this page with the information.
On 8/19/08, the National Federation of the Blind issued the following press release. There doesn't appear to be any closing date on the offer, so it's assumed that it is open from now on. Read on for details on how you can get a free white cane.
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), has launched an initiative to ensure that any blind person in the United States and Puerto Rico who needs a long white cane will have one, regardless of their ability to pay. The NFB will provide a free cane to anyone in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico who is blind or has low vision and who uses or desires to use a white cane in order to travel independently. This historic initiative is the largest effort ever of its kind to provide white canes to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
The long white cane provides an effective means for blind students to get to school, blind adults to get to work, and blind seniors to remain active.
It is estimated that 109,000 of the 1.3 million legally blind people in the United States use a white cane. By supplying canes free of charge, this program provides the opportunity for all blind Americans to have a white cane and to participate fully in society.
The National Federation of the Blind will provide a straight, light fiberglass cane to any blind individual in the United States or Puerto Rico who requires the cane for personal use. Canes are available in the following lengths: 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, or 63 inches. Individuals may only request one free cane in any six-month period.
Click here to Apply for a free cane from the NFB.
Here are some sites with information on the history of White Cane Day and the white cane.
Here's the official 2009 Presidential Proclamation for White Cane Day.
Here are some links related to the white cane.
Need a cane? Here's a list of places that sell them:
If you have any questions or comments about White Cane Day or the Austin celebration/events, then email whitecaneday@gmail.com Contact the webmaster with any questions, problems or suggestions.
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