[NFBMO] National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Applauds Governor Parson for Issuing Proclamation to Promote Public Awareness of the White Cane and Dog Guide as Tools of Independence for Blind People

[Bryan Schulz]

Hi,

I think there is some wishful thinking thrown into this!
I have never been offered mobility assistance training from a college.
It's the responsibility of the student to figure out how to be at the
correct room at a specific time!
Bryan Schulz


-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daniel Garcia via NFBMO
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2019 7:36 PM
To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List (nfbmo at nfbnet.org) <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Daniel Garcia <dangarcia3 at hotmail.com>
Subject: [NFBMO] National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Applauds
Governor Parson for Issuing Proclamation to Promote Public Awareness of the
White Cane and Dog Guide as Tools of Independence for Blind People

For Immediate Release


National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Applauds Governor Parson for
Issuing Proclamation to Promote Public Awareness of the White Cane and Dog
Guide as Tools of Independence for Blind People


On October 15 Blind People Celebrate the Importance of the White Cane in our
Ability to Live the Lives We Want


Kansas City, Missouri (October 11, 2019): The National Federation of the
Blind of Missouri applauds Governor Michael L Parson for recently issuing a
proclamation declaring October 15 as White Cane Awareness Day. The
proclamation serves as a means to promote greater public awareness of the
usefulness of the white cane or dog guide as a tool allowing "every blind
person to move freely and safely from place to place." In addition, the
proclamation is a way of reminding motorists of their responsibility to
"exercise appropriate caution when approaching a blind person carrying a
white cane or using a dog guide." The proclamation also calls on colleges
and universities to provide blind people with full training and on employers
to utilize the talents and skills of Blind people. Furthermore, the
Governor's Proclamation also acknowledges the National Federation of the
Blind of Missouri as a partner assisting state agencies in the promotion of
greater employment opportunities for blind people as well as the national
organization's leading role in increasing independent travel for the blind
through its Free White Cane Program which has provided sixty-four thousand
free white canes to individuals since 2008.

"The National Federation of the Blind seeks to bring public awareness about
blindness throughout the year," said Shelia Wright, President of the NFB of
Missouri. "But it is during October that we put forth an extra effort.
October is Meet the Blind Month. During October, members of the NFB go out
into the community to talk with people about what blindness is and is not
and to make people aware of the resources and programs of the NFB that help
blind people live independently. The most important date on our October
calendar is October 15, and we are thrilled that Governor Parson signed a
proclamation acknowledging the importance of the white cane in the lives of
blind people."

Since its founding in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind has been a
leading force in promoting independence for blind people. In the 1960's and
1970's the National Federation of the Blind helped obtain passage, in all 50
states, of White Cane Safety Laws, which removed barriers to blind people
living independently. More recently, the NFB tackled the issue of quiet cars
by successfully helping to pass the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act,
signed into law on January 4, 2011. In 2017 the National Federation of the
Blind established a monitoring program to ensure that dog guide users are
not denied service by rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. The NFB is
also working with automobile manufacturers and elected officials to ensure
that blind people get access to fully autonomous vehicles once they become
available in the market.

Members of the NFB of Missouri were recently asked to reflect on what White
Cane Awareness Day means to them. Gary Wunder, who served as president of
the NFB of Missouri until 2017, stated that "The white cane has made a
tremendous difference in my life. Before the white cane my travel was
limited. I went where other people went or where I could persuade them to
go. If I went by myself outside, I rubbed my shoe along the curb, assuming
there was one. I snapped my fingers to use echolocation to determine whether
something was in front of me. I did not travel with confidence, and in fact
I was waiting for the next arm to use that would most certainly be offered
by a human guide. But the wonderful part was realizing that I did not have
to walk with a shuffle, that I was not limited to going where other people
wanted to go, and this simple little cane could allow me to use senses that
I never knew I had before. I did not realize that I could cross busy streets
safely and that something as simple as a cane could make such a difference
in my life."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest, largest, and most
effective nationwide civil rights and self-advocacy organization of blind
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and
divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The National
Federation of the Blind seeks to achieve the complete integration of the
blind into society on a basis of equality. To accomplish this objective, our
programs aim to remove legal, economic, and social barriers and to educate
the public to new concepts concerning blindness. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. We can live the lives we want;
blindness is not what holds us back.

CONTACT:
Daniel Garcia, Public Relations Chair
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
(816) 621-0902
dangarcia3 at hotmail.com<mailto:dangarcia3 at hotmail.com>



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