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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The text below comes from a maker of canes for the blind. This is part of a new, and lengthy discussion on the Chapter Presidents list. Take a read:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good evening.<span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Great question and appropriate for yesterday’s White Cane Safety Day. As the owner of Custom Cane(since 2012), your question about the color of a cane has come up many times. I have spoken with several attorneys, researched case law, and compared state laws before providing a response. I hope that you find this information useful. Remember, we are so fortunate to have the ability to even own a cane. In my travels and collaborations around the world, a large population of the blind have never owned a cane because of its expensive cost and/or lack of resources. We are fortunate to have such a provision offered by the NFB -The Free White Cane program. At the end of my write up, if you have the same passion to equip the blind with white canes around the world, please check out the links at the end!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'>White cane Law.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'> The white cane law’s purpose is to protect pedestrians with disabilities and has encompassed over the years to include the deaf, guide dog users, walker users, wheel chair individuals, and anyone else with an obvious disability. Each state varies in their wording of the law. However, the purpose is the same: Protect the rights of disabled pedestrians. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'> Does the cane have to be white? No. As you study the white cane law in each state, most refer to a person who is blind carrying either a white cane or upright stick. Some laws just say cane. Some states say cane, walker, guide dog, wheel chair with an obvious disability or impairment. For example, here is Colorado’s “white cane law”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'>“<span style='font-size:16.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-808 says that “any pedestrian, other than a person in a wheelchair, or any driver of a vehicle who approaches a person who has an obviously apparent disability of blindness, deafness, or mobility impairment shall immediately come to a full stop and take such precautions before proceeding as are necessary to avoid an accident or injury to said person. A disability shall be deemed to be obviously apparent if, by way of example and without limitation, the person is using a cane or crutches, is assisted by an assistance dog, as defined in section 24-34-803 (7), is being assisted by another person, is in a wheelchair, or is walking with an obvious physical impairment.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>”</span> :<o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'>For the sighted community, when a person is walking and using a long cane, regardless of the color, and is using their mobility technique of swinging the cane to and fro,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'> It is obvious that the person is blind. If a person does not recognize that, it will not matter what color a cane is, what color the dog’s harness is, and so forth. ] So am I protected under the law if I use a cane that has accented designs or is multi-colored? Yes. Again, the purpose of the law is to protect and give rights to disabled pedestrians. If you are injured or hit by an oncoming vehicle, the color of your cane, dog harness, or the type wheel chair you have is irrelevant.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'> Notice this article written by<span style='font-size:15.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><a href="http://www.visionaware.org/section.aspx?SectionID=133&TopicID=517&DocumentID=6007"><span style='font-size:15.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#000099'>Dona Sauerburger</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#D44E0D'>“Does the Cane Have to Be White to Be Effective?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:10.0pt'><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#D44E0D'>Canes for Outdoor Travel</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>When used properly, a cane can provide information and protection regardless of its color—it does not have to be white to be effective. Most canes used by blind people are white, but they are also available in red, black, yellow, and blue.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=300 height=260 id=F044D7FF-EB62-4A4D-BFA2-5D27B2BCEF19 src="cid:image001.jpg@01D584D3.C322EEB0"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Canes from AmbuTech are now available in several colors (Credit: AmbuTech. Used with permission.)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The blind character portrayed by Al Pacino in the film "Scent of a Woman" inspired the development of AmbuTech's solid black cane.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>However, </span><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>only a white cane</span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> 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. It's likely that people will be more willing to help if they realize you're asking for information because you are blind or have low vision.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:10.0pt'><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#D44E0D'>About "White Cane Laws"</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Many people are under the impression that each state?s White Cane Law contains a provision that requires drivers to stop for, and/or yield to, pedestrians who are carrying white canes. </span><span style='font-size:15.0pt'>This is not correct. The laws in each state vary widely and drivers do not always reliably stop for pedestrians who carry white canes.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>When drivers see pedestrians who are carrying white canes:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-25.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>1</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Some states require that drivers yield.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-25.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>2</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Some states require drivers to come to a full stop.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-25.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>3</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Some states require only that drivers exercise caution when in the presence of pedestrians with white canes.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-25.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>4</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Some states provide no special rights and protections to pedestrians who are carrying white canes that are not provided to all pedestrians.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=freeform style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Check your state's White Cane Law to determine the language that describes driver and pedestrian rights and responsibilities.”</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'>Kustom Cane respects the thoughts and opinions of everyone. Some persons insist on a white cane. Some prefer a predominantly white cane with little embelishment. To some, it is not an issue. However, as in all matters, it is wise to speak with a full researched understanding rather than speaking out of ignorance or presumptuousness. In fact, many of our canes are made with reflective sign material. Thus, our black reflective cane is more visible than a standard white cane at night! So, specific colors do not mean increased safety.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'>Imagine living your life without a cane? Many in the world do not have the privileges of going to school, work, shopping, visiting friends, or everyday tasks that we do not even think twice about. The You Cane Give Initiative is changing this! In our short time of existence(3 years), we have sent over 436 canes in 15 countries, 100 talking solar powered talking Bibles in the person’s native tongue, and provided mobility instruction. Check out our links below for more information and ways to support:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="http://www.YouCaneGive.org"><b>www.YouCaneGive.org</b></a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Go Fund Me link:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/you-cane-give-tackling-the-white-cane-famine">https://www.gofundme.com/you-cane-give-tackling-the-white-cane-famine</a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>PayPal link:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="https://www.paypal.me/youcanegiveProgram">https://www.paypal.me/youcanegiveProgram</a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Amazon Smile link:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/ch/83-4173891">https://smile.amazon.com/ch/83-4173891</a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>Facebook page:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/You-Cane-Give-Initiative-1558518134229769/">https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/You-Cane-Give-Initiative-1558518134229769/</a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>YouTube link:</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr-VOyJg-h0m8U34muYGadg">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr-VOyJg-h0m8U34muYGadg</a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Check out our video as we partnered with Aira in March:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6h3NqiqTrQ&t=39s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6h3NqiqTrQ&t=39s</a></span></u><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=body style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In Africa, they call the shortage of white canes a White Cane Famine! Together, we can empower the blind-one cane at a time!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=177 height=138 id="_x0036_7F4AE4D-AD9C-4B2E-8960-EB3DFB469CA7" src="cid:image002.png@01D584D3.C322EEB0"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><br>James Alan Boehm M.Ed, LPC-MHSP (Temp)</span><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Contact Information<br>Phone: 901-483-1515<br>Personal <a href="mailto:jimmydagerman80@gmail.com">Email: jimmydagerman80@gmail.com</a><br>NFB <a href="mailto:JBoehm@NFB-TN.org">Email: JBoehm@NFB-TN.org</a><br>Learning Ally: <a href="mailto:JBoehm@LearningAlly.org">JBoehm@LearningAlly.org</a><br>Kustom Cane: <a href="mailto:kustomcane@gmail.com">kustomcane@gmail.com</a><br>You Cane Give Initiative: <a href="mailto:YuCaneGive@gmail.com">YuCaneGive@gmail.com</a><br>Embrace challenges for personal growth! Remember! Circumstances do not mean sentences!</span><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>On Oct 16, 2019, at 7:04 PM, Mike Klimisch via Chapter-Presidents <<a href="mailto:chapter-presidents@nfbnet.org">chapter-presidents@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Thought I would provoke some thought here since we are celebrating the white cane awareness. Last summer at national convention in Vegas, I saw a little bit of everything. Saw many dog guides and also saw canes of various colors. Saw someone with an all black cane, someone with an all blue cane, even saw someone with a lighted cane, and saw many folding or collapsible canes. My question is, are the colored canes legal and should we be using them since the law states white with or without a red tip. I believe the cane that were various colors were made by Ambutech since they are the only ones I know of that offer canes in various configurations. I'm not opposed to anyone using a folding or telescoping cane so people can use whatever they prefer, just the color thing sparked thoughts in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>-- <span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mike Klimisch<br>The Falls Chapter<br>NFB of Sioux Falls, SD<br><a href="mailto:fallsnfb@gmail.com" target="_blank">fallsnfb@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>phone 605 339-9207<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell 605 929-0649<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Falls chapter meeting place: (Usual)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1st Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Caille Library<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4100 S. Carnegie Circle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sioux Falls, SD 57105<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Library phone (605) 367-8144<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>Chapter-Presidents mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Chapter-Presidents@nfbnet.org">Chapter-Presidents@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-presidents_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-presidents_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Chapter-Presidents:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/chapter-presidents_nfbnet.org/jboehm%40nfbtn.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/chapter-presidents_nfbnet.org/jboehm%40nfbtn.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>