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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In observance of White Cane Safety
Day.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I posted this article several years ago and
thought it was worth posting again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND<BR>History of White
Cane Safety Day<BR>by Philip Strong<BR>The white cane is not just a tool that
can be used to achieve independence; it is<BR>also a symbol of the blind
citizens in our society. To honor the many achievements<BR>of blind and visually
impaired Americans and to recognize the white cane's significance<BR>in
advancing independence, we observe October 15 of each year as "White Cane
Safety<BR>Day." Today, the white cane works both, as a tool for the blind as
well as a symbol,<BR>but this has not always been the case. Throughout history,
the cane, staff, and stick<BR>have existed as traveling aids for the blind and
visually impaired. Dating back to<BR>biblical times records show that a
shepherd's staff was used as a tool for solitary<BR>travel. The blind used such
tools to alert them to obstacles in their path.<BR>For centuries, the "cane" was
used merely as a tool for travel and it was not until<BR>the twentieth century
that the cane, as we know it today, was promoted for use by<BR>the blind as a
symbol to alert others to the fact that an individual was blind.<BR>This new
role for the white cane had its origins in the decades between the two
World<BR>Wars, beginning in Europe and then spreading to North America. James
Biggs of Bristol<BR>claimed to have invented the white cane in 1921. After an
accident claimed his sight,<BR>the artist had to readjust to his environment.
Feeling threatened by increased motor<BR>vehicle traffic around his home, Biggs
decided to paint his walking stick white to<BR>make himself more visible to
motorists.<BR>It was not however until ten years later the white cane
established its presence<BR>in society. In February 1931, Guilly d'Herbemont
launched a scheme for a national<BR>white stick movement for blind people in
France. The campaign was reported in British<BR>newspapers leading to a similar
scheme being sponsored by rotary clubs throughout<BR>the United Kingdom. In May
1931 the BBC suggested in its radio broadcasts that blind<BR>individuals might
be provided with a white stick, which would become universally<BR>recognized as
a symbol indicating that somebody was blind or visually impaired. In<BR>North
America the introduction of the white cane has been attributed to the
Lion's<BR>Clubs International. In 1930, a Lion's Club member watched as a blind
man attempted<BR>to make his way across a busy street using a black cane. With
the realization that<BR>the black cane was barely visible to motorists, the
Lion's Club decided to paint<BR>the cane white to increase its visibility to
oncoming motorists. In 1931, the Lion's<BR>Club International began a national
program promoting the use of white canes for<BR>persons who are blind Throughout
the 1920s and 1930s, blind persons had walked with<BR>their canes held
diagonally in a fixed position, and the role of the white cane took<BR>on a
symbolic role as an identifier. But when the blind veterans of World War
II<BR>returned to America, the form and the use of the white cane was further
altered in<BR>an attempt to help return veterans to participatory lifestyles at
home. Doctor Richard<BR>Hoover developed the "long cane" or "Hoover" method of
cane travel. These white canes<BR>are designed to be used as mobility devices
and returned the cane to its original<BR>role as a tool for mobility, but
maintained the symbolic role as an identifier of<BR>blind
independence.<BR>During this period, the white cane began to make its way into
government policy as<BR>a symbol for the blind.<BR>The first special White Cane
Ordinance was passed in December 1930 in Peoria, Illinois.<BR>It granted blind
pedestrians protections and the right-of-way while carrying a white<BR>cane. In
1935, Michigan began promoting the white cane as a visible symbol for
the<BR>blind. On February 25, 1936, ordinance was passed for the City of Detroit
recognizing<BR>the white cane. To promote the new ordinance, a demonstration was
held at City Hall<BR>where the blind and visually impaired were presented with
white canes. The following<BR>year, Donald Schuur wrote the provision of a bill
and had it proposed in the State<BR>Legislature. The proposal gave the carrier
of the White Cane protection while traveling<BR>on the streets of Michigan.
Governor Frank Murphy signed the bill into law in March<BR>1937. During the
early 1960's, several state organizations and rehabilitation agencies<BR>serving
the blind and visually impaired citizens of the United States urged
Congress<BR>to proclaim October 15 of each year to be White Cane Safety Day in
all fifty states.<BR>This event marked a climatic moment in the long campaign of
the organized blind movement<BR>to gain state as well as national recognition
for the white cane. On October 6, 1964,<BR>a joint resolution of the Congress,
HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President<BR>of the United States to
proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day".<BR>The resolution
read "Resolved by the Senate and HR. that the President is hereby<BR>authorized
to issue annually a proclamation designating October 15 as White Cane<BR>Safety
Day and calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a
day<BR>with appropriate ceremonies and activities." Within hours of passage of
the congressional<BR>resolution, President Lyndon B. Johnson went down in
history as the first to proclaim<BR>October 15, as White Cane Safety Day. The
Presidential proclamation emphasized the<BR>significance of the use of the white
cane as both a tool and as a visible symbol.<BR>In the first White Cane
Proclamation President Johnson commended blind people for<BR>the growing spirit
of independence and the increased determination to be self-reliant<BR>and
dignified. He said in part: "A white cane in our society has become one of
the<BR>symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on his own. Its use
has promoted<BR>courtesy and opportunity for mobility of the blind on our
streets and highways."<BR>During most years since 1964, the President has
proclaimed October 15 as White Cane<BR>Safety Day. On October 15, 2000,
President Bill Clinton again reminded us of the<BR>history of the white cane as
a tool, and its purpose as a symbol of blindness: ",<BR>With proper training,
people using the white cane can enjoy greater mobility and<BR>safety by
determining the location of curbs, steps, uneven pavement, and other
physical<BR>obstacles in their path. The white cane has given them the freedom
to travel independently<BR>to their schools and workplaces and to participate
more fully in the life of their<BR>communities. it reminds us that the only
barriers against people with disabilities<BR>are discriminatory attitudes and
practices that our society has too often placed<BR>in their way. As we observe
White Cane Safety Day, 2001, let us recall the history<BR>of the white cane, its
emergence as a tool and a symbol through history; a staff<BR>of independence.
Let us also recall the events that have permitted us to celebrate<BR>October 15
as White Cane Safety Day.<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>