[NFBofSC] 2024 Governor's White Cane Safety Day Proclamation

[David Houck]

Text version:

 State of South Carolina
 Governor's Proclamation

 WHEREAS, the white cane, which every blind citizen of South Carolina
has the right to carry,
 demonstrates and symbolizes the ability to achieve a full and
independent life and the
 capacity to work productively in competitive employment; and
 WHEREAS, by allowing every blind person to move freely and safely
from place to place, the white cane makes it possible for the blind to
fully participate in and contribute to our society
 and to live the lives they want; and
 WHEREAS, every citizen should be aware that the law requires that
motorists and cyclists exercise appropriate caution when approaching a
blind person carrying a white cane; and
 WHEREAS, South Carolina state law also calls upon employers, both
public and private, to be
 aware of and utilize the employment skills of our blind citizens by
recognizing their worth as individuals and their productive
capacities; and
 WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina has
promoted independent living, mobility training, braille literacy
rights, and voting and jury duty rights, not to mention
 the White Cane Law passed in 1972; and a
 WHEREAS, the South Carolina Commission for the Blind came into
existence in 1966 by the
 National Federation of the Blind advocating for legislation in order
that this state agency
 shall assist in implementing vocational, assistive technology,
braille and computer literacy
 so the blind may find competitive employment and the elderly blind
may live independently; and
 WHEREAS, the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind,
celebrating its 175th year of
 service this year, prepares this generation of blind children for
their educational goals; and
 WHEREAS, with the cooperative assistance of the National Federation
of the Blind of South
 Carolina, along with the Commission for the Blind and the School for
the Blind, South
 Carolina can and should facilitate the expansion of employment
opportunities for greater
 acceptance of blind persons in the competitive labor market as the
General Assembly has done by defeating subminimum wages for the blind
and disabled workers in this state going into full effect in 2024.
 NOW, THEREFORE, I, Henry Dargan McMaster, Governor of the great State
of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2024, as
 WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY
 throughout the state and encourage our schools, colleges, and
universities to offer full opportunities for training blind persons,
employers and the public to utilize the available skills of competent
blind persons, to open new opportunities for the blind in our rapidly
changing society, and encourage all South Carolinians to
 recognize the white cane as a tool of independence for blind
pedestrians on our streets and highways.

 HENRY DARGAN MCMASTER
 GOVERNOR
 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

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