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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>eb/whitecaneday.pr
09-407</span></font></p>
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10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<h1><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For
Immediate Release: October 13, 2009</span></font></b></h1>
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10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Montgomery County Urges Drivers to
Slow Down and </span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Respect Pedestrians Who Use White
Canes; </span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>National White Cane
Day is October 15</span></font></i></b></p>
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10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>To
recognize the importance of National White Cane Day on October 15, the 45<sup>th</sup>
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. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>“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.”</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>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. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>“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.” </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>“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.” </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>According
to Philip Strong’s <i><span style='font-style:italic'>History of White
Cane Safety Day</span></i>, “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.”</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>For more
information, go to the National Federation for the Blind’s website at <a
href="http://www.nfb.org/">http://www.nfb.org</a>. For information
about Montgomery County’s disability services, go to <a
href="http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/disability">www.montgomerycountymd.gov/disability</a>.
</span></font></p>
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size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>#
# #</span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Media Contact: </span></font></b><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Esther Bowring, 240-777-6507</span></font></p>
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