[Nfbmd] FW: Montgomery County Urges Drivers to Slow Down and Respect Pedestrians Who Use White Canes; National White Cane Day is October 15

[Reyazuddin, Yasmin]

eb/whitecaneday.pr                             09-407

 


For Immediate Release: October 13, 2009


 

Montgomery County Urges Drivers to Slow Down and 

Respect Pedestrians Who Use White Canes; 

National White Cane Day is October 15

 

To recognize the importance of National White Cane Day on October 15,
the 45th anniversary of this annual event, Montgomery County Executive
Isiah Leggett is urging drivers to be cautious when encountering a
visually impaired pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog.  Leggett
has made pedestrian safety a priority of his administration, and an
important component in reaching the goal of making the County a more
walkable community is educating both drivers and pedestrians about the
steps they can take to prevent pedestrian collisions. 

"Let's all make a special effort to promote courtesy and respect to the
visually impaired on the streets and roadways, not only on National
White Cane Day, but every day," said Leggett.  "The white cane is an
important symbol - and it provides every blind person the independence
to live a full life and make a contribution to society.  As the County
explores more ways to expand job opportunities for those with
disabilities, White Cane Day helps us celebrate the independence,
abilities and achievements of people with visual impairments."

White Cane Day has been celebrated since 1964 and now focuses on
recognizing the independence of the blind and their right to participate
fully in society.  Every State throughout the nation has a white cane
law that addresses pedestrian safety for the blind and guarantees civil
rights protections. 

"When drivers see a pedestrian with a disability, it's simple to keep
everyone safe," said Charlie Short, a visually impaired administrative
aide employee with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).  "Just slow down, have patience and give the person the
time they need to cross." 

"The white cane is a symbol of independence for blind people that has
helped to greatly expand employment opportunities for the blind," said
Yasmin Reyazuddin, a visually impaired information and referral
specialist with HHS.  "Persons with disabilities have been especially
hard hit during this difficult economic time, and the blind are no
different. We have an unemployment rate of 70 percent.  Being a person
with a disability is a minority that anyone can join on any day.  I hope
people will consider that as they make decisions based on qualifications
and not on disability."  

According to Philip Strong's History of White Cane Safety Day, "it was
not until the twentieth century that the white cane was promoted for use
by the blind as a symbol to alert others to the fact that an individual
was blind."

For more information, go to the National Federation for the Blind's
website at http://www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org/> .   For information
about Montgomery County's disability services, go to
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/disability.  

# # #

 

Media Contact:  Esther Bowring, 240-777-6507

 

 

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