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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Free White Cane Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>The National Federation of the Blind has distributed more than 64,000 free white canes since 2008. The white cane gives blind people the ability to achieve a full and independent life, allowing us to travel freely and safely. We started our free white cane program because we believe that no blind person should be without a white cane, regardless of his or her ability to pay for it.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>To request a white cane, you can fill out our online application or mail a completed application to our office.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'><a href="http://freecane.nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#005AA3'>Free White Cane Online Application</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='color:lime'><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/free_white_cane_application.pdf" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:#005AA3'>Free White Cane Application (PDF)</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>; please mail the completed PDF application to Free White Cane Program, National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21230<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico can request a cane for their personal use. Requests can be made as often as every six months.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>How to Choose Your Cane Size<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>The canes distributed through our free white cane program are straight fiberglass canes (i.e., not folding or telescoping). All canes are white with a loop on top of the handle and come with a cane tip.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>For adult first-time cane users, we recommend measuring from your shoulders to the floor. The cane needs to reach about two steps in front of where you are stepping. The speed of your pace and length of your stride will make a difference. More experienced cane travelers may wish to have a longer cane, measuring at least chin height.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>For children, teens, and young adults who are first-time cane users, we recommend measuring from your chin to the floor. More experienced cane travelers may wish to have a longer cane, measuring at least nose height.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Cane Travel Training<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Because we are committed to ensuring that every blind person can acquire the training he or she needs to use the white cane, we are proudly affiliated with top-notch model </span></b><span style='color:lime'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/training-centers"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:#005AA3'>training centers</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>. The innovative training programs we have pioneered at these centers are increasingly being replicated by other rehabilitation agencies and providers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>For more information on cane travel and techniques, we invite you to read, "</span></b><span style='color:lime'><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/books/cfcane/canetc.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:#005AA3'>Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane: Instructions in Cane Travel for Blind People</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President Elect of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1<sup>st</sup> Vice President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of SC owns and operates Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center. Below is a link to read more about Rocky Bottom and to make a reservation for a mountain retreat!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://rockybottomofsc.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join the National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book at any of the below links!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NatFedofSouthCarolina/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Computer-Science-Technology-Division-of-the-NFB-of-SC-343263089815304/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/RockyBottomofSC/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Scabs1944/?refid=46&__xts__%5B0%5D=12.%7B%22unit_id_click_type%22%3A%22graph_search_results_item_tapped%22%2C%22click_type%22%3A%22result%22%2C%22module_id%22%3A1%2C%22result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22session_id%22%3A%22dde06b014c19c1fa49889d82a62edcda%22%2C%22module_role%22%3A%22ENTITY_PAGES%22%2C%22unit_id%22%3A%22browse_rl%3Aaed5eb18-5eed-4148-8ec7-5150ce26bf7b%22%2C%22browse_result_type%22%3A%22browse_type_page%22%2C%22unit_id_result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22module_result_position%22%3A0%7D"><span style='color:#0563C1'>South Carolina Association of Blind Students</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/375092969314880?_rdr"><span style='color:#0563C1'>South Carolina Parents of Blind Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind welcomes all blind people, parents of blind children, blind students, those losing vision, and more. We are a family of members and friends that knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. You can live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span lang=EN style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span lang=EN style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>How to Join<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Federation of the Blind is to attend a chapter or division meeting in your local area. You can find your nearest chapter or division meeting by reaching out to your state affiliate president. Membership in a chapter or division will automatically grant you membership in your state affiliate and the national organization.</span><span lang=EN> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/join-us"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Come join us!</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>