[Nfbf-l] Oct. 15

[MisterAdvocate at aol.com]

NATIONAL WHITE CANE  SAFETY DAY 
OCTOBER 15,  2010 
President Lyndon B.  Johnson first proclaimed National White Cane Safety 
Day in 1964 with these  words, “A white cane in our society has become one of 
the symbols of a blind  person’s ability to come and go on his own.  Its use 
has promoted  courtesy and special consideration for the blind on our 
streets and  highways.  To make our people more fully aware of the meaning of the 
 white cane, and of the need for motorists to exercise special care for the 
 blind persons who carry it, the Congress, by a joint resolution has 
authorized  the President to proclaim October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety 
 Day.” 
Where did the White  Cane come from?  There are references in the Bible in 
Deuteronomy and in  Ancient Greek Mythology about giving a staff to a blind 
man.  It is known  that in Scotland in 1800 blind men used a stick or cane, 
but it is not clear  how they used it.  In 1874, a man named Levy in England 
came up with the  first organized cane system.  His system was not truly 
practical.  A  man carried a stick that was very tall.  He would hold it 
straight up and  down.  He then would move it from side to side and walk very  
slowly.  Levy did talk about extending the cane forward when looking for  
drop-offs.   
In the 1890’s a man  named Robinson, also in England, came up with another 
method.  He had a  man hold a metal cane.  The person would hold the cane 
straight up and  down also.  He would then swing the cane back and forth like 
the pendulum  of a clock.  This was not a very practical system, however, 
his idea of a  metal cane was very innovative.  He also noticed that roads 
were crowned  in the middle, that people tend to go to the right as they walk, 
and that  people pick up information through their feet.   
During World War I  the British rehabilitated their war blind at St. 
Dunstans. They used a fairly  modern technique that had the person holding the 
cane forward and using a  side-to-side movement.  
In the period  between the World Wars, the Lions Club advocated for laws 
protecting the  visually impaired from motorists.  They provided white canes 
with red  tips so that the visually impaired pedestrian could be clearly  
identified.  The red and white color for canes still is used today.    
Veterans blinded in  WWII were the inspiration for the development of 
lightweight canes and travel  techniques still used today.  The basis of modern 
Long Cane travel came  from the Army and a remarkable man named Richard 
Hoover.  Most of his  techniques are seen today in the cane travel many of you 
have been  taught. 

THE CANE  SONG 
(To the tune of “My  Favorite Things”) 

Traveling downtown  or out in the ‘burbs 
Crossing the street  and finding the curb 
If you’re still  wondering, please let me explain 
These are the  things I can do with my cane. 
I use it when  finding a street intersection 
Establishing  landmarks and object detection 
Please don’t be  thinking these tasks are a strain 
These are the  things I can do with my cane. 
I used to crash  things 
Sometimes smash  things 
End up black and  blue 
But now with my  cane 
I’m no longer in  pain 
And feel like I’m  all brand new!