Welcome to the official website for the White Cane Day celebration. Check back often to see what's been added. Note that the date for the Austin celebration and activities has been changed to Tuesday, october 13.
Planning for the 2009 Austin White Cane Day celebration begins. Come help make this year's event bigger than last year. The meetings for the White Cane Day committee will be held at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, 4800 N. Lamar, in the Main Lounge starting at 1:15. The next meeting will be on April 24. At this meeting, the T-shirt design, slogans and colors will be decided, along with committee appointments and assignments. See you there.
Read the official 2008 White Cane Day press release (Word document). Or, read the Statewide Press Release (Word document), which has information on White Cane Day observances around the state as well as in Austin.
Below is a list of the media coverage that White Cane Day 2008 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.
The t-shirt will be burnt orange with black and cream print.
On the front of the t-shirt: Starting from the top is WHITE CANE DAY (black text) all in capital letters. Below that is an image of the State of Texas (cream with black outline) with the number 2008 (black text) separated by the Texas panhandle. Over the State of Texas, there are images of two people, (one person traveling with a cane and another person traveling with a dog guide) walking across the state. There is a star where Austin is located. Near the southwest part of the state where Mexico is located are the words Austin, Texas (black text). At the southern tip of Texas is the signature of the artist Harry Bokemeyer.
On the back of the shirt: From the top of the t-shirt in Braille the phrase "NEVER LOST ... FOREVER EXPLORING!" (black) will be split between two lines. Below the Braille, the phrase will be written in print. Moving down the t- shirt will be a list of sponsors and at the very bottom of the t-shirt will be in Braille "Ready to Work, Ready to Contribute"
Read about the 2007 White Cane Day celebrations in Texas:
Here are some sites with information on the history of White Cane Day and the white cane.
Here's the official 2008 Presidential Proclamation for White Cane Day.
Here's the text of the 2008 White Cane Day proclamation for Austin, Texas.
ProclamationBe it known that
Whereas,
The white cane and the dog guide are tools that are key to greater mobility and independence for the blind or visually impaired; and,
Whereas,
For the sighted, the white cane and the dog are reminders to respond with respect and courtesy to individuals using them; and,
Whereas,
For all of us, they are reminders of our commitment to removing barriers, both physically and attitudinal, that prevent people who are blind from reaching their full potential; and,
Whereas,
White Cane Day promotes awareness of the independence and contributions that individuals who are blind make to the social and economic life of our community;
Now, Therefore,
I, Will Wynn, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas,
do call upon all citizens to join me in promoting independent travel and full participation for all Austinites in every aspect of life in our great City and do hereby proclaim October 15, 2008
As
White Cane Day in Austin.In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Austin to be affixed this First Day of October in the Year Two Thousand Eight
Will Wynn, Mayor,
City of Austin
Here are some links related to the white cane.
Need a cane? Here's a list of places that sell them:
Contact the webmaster with any questions, problems or suggestions.
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