[Ohio-talk] [External] Re: Ohio you should be using this in your education efforts WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY

[Payne, Richard (Synchrony)]

Thanks for being on the team.


_____________________________________________
From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sheri Albers via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2018 11:43 AM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List' <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sheri Albers <sheri.albers87 at gmail.com>
Subject: [External] Re: [Ohio-talk] Ohio you should be using this in your education efforts WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY


Hello President Payne,
I just want to put the text of the updated White Cane proclamation below. This day is now referred to as White Cane Awareness Day. Here is information from the NFB website discussing the name change:

The History of White Cane Awareness Day
While it was not uncommon throughout history for blind people to use a stick or cane to navigate, society largely didn't accept that blind people could travel by ourselves until recently.
In the 1960s, the National Federation of the Blind became a leader in fighting for the rights of the blind and in pioneering innovative training programs using the white cane. At our urging, the United States Congress adopted a joint resolution in 1964 designating October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day. This publicly recognized that white canes enable blind people to travel safely and independently. You can read more about the rich history leading to this joint resolution and about the first proclamation of White Cane Safety Day by then president Lyndon Johnson in this article by Dr. Marc Maurer<https://nfb.org/white-cane-safety-day>.
While the white cane keeps blind people safe (because drivers and other pedestrians can easily see it), it is also a tool that blind people use to explore and navigate our environment. For this reason, the emphasis of White Cane Safety Day has shifted over time away from safety, and toward independence and equality. We believe that it's important to celebrate this history and recognize the white cane as the tool that allows the blind to "come and go on [our] own" as President Johnson said back in 1964.
To emphasize the shift in focus from safety to independence, and to continue to use the white cane as a symbol, we have chosen to refer to this day as White Cane Awareness Day.

PROCLAMATION:
STATE OR CITY OF (name of state or city)

WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY PROCLAMATION (Sample)


      WHEREAS, the white cane, which every blind citizen of our state/city 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, the white cane, by allowing every blind person to move freely and safely from place to place, 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, (name of 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 State of (name of state), through its public agencies and with the cooperative assistance of the (name of Federation affiliate), can and should facilitate the expansion of employment opportunities for and greater acceptance of blind persons in the competitive labor market:

      NOW, THEREFORE, I, (name of Governor/mayor), Governor of the State of (name of state or city), do hereby proclaim October 15, _________, as

WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY

in (name of state) and do call upon our schools, colleges, and universities to offer full opportunities for training to blind persons; upon employers and the public to utilize the available skills of competent blind persons and to open new opportunities for the blind in our rapidly changing society; and upon all citizens to recognize the white cane as a tool of independence for blind pedestrians on our streets and highways.


Best Regards,
Sheri Albers, Vice President
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
513.886.8697
Sheri.albers87 at gmail.com<mailto:Sheri.albers87 at gmail.com>

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.


_____________________________________________
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard Payne via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Saturday, October 6, 2018 10:55 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Cc: Richard Payne
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Ohio you should be using this in your education efforts WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY


        WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY
        FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

        WHEREAS, the white cane, which all blind citizens of the (school name) community have the right to carry, demonstrates and symbolizes their ability to achieve a full and independent life and their capacity to work productively in competitive employment; and

        WHEREAS, the white cane, by allowing all blind people to move freely and safely from place to place, makes it possible for them to participate fully in and contribute to the enrichment of our campus community; and

        WHEREAS, motorists should be aware that the law requires that blind pedestrians using a white cane or a guide dog shall have the right-of-way; and

        WHEREAS, this body recognizes that it is respectable to be blind and that the blind are equal in every way to their sighted peers, different only by the characteristic of not having the physical ability to see; and

        WHEREAS, through the efforts of the (name of school) community and with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, we can look forward to a continued expansion of educational opportunities for and greater acceptance of blind people in the competitive labor market; and

        WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has declared October Meet the Blind Month and takes this opportunity each year to educate the public about the abilities of blind citizens:

        Now, therefore, the Student Senate of (name of school) hereby proclaims October 2018 Meet the Blind Month and October 15, 2018,

        WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY

for the purpose of bringing the (name of school) community to a greater understanding of blindness and what it means to be blind and calls upon every academic institution to offer full educational opportunities to all blind students.
WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY PROCLAMATION

        WHEREAS, the white cane, which all blind citizens of our (city/county) have the right to carry, demonstrates and symbolizes their ability to achieve a full and independent life and their capacity to work productively in competitive employment; and

        WHEREAS, by allowing all blind people to move freely and safely from place to place, the white cane makes it possible for them to participate fully in and contribute to our society; and

        WHEREAS, Ohio law calls upon employers, both public and private, to be aware of and use the employment skills of blind citizens by recognizing their worth as individuals and their productive capacities as employees; and

        WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has declared October Meet the Blind Month and takes this opportunity each year to educate the public about the abilities of blind citizens; and

        WHEREAS, through the public education and outreach efforts of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, citizens of this (city/county) can look forward to a continued expansion of employment opportunities for and greater acceptance of blind people in the competitive labor market:

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, (name), Mayor/City Manager/Commissioner of the City/County of (name of city/county), do hereby proclaim October 2018 Meet the Blind Month and October 15, 2018,

        WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY

in the City/County of (name of city/county), for the purpose of bringing a greater understanding of blindness and what it means to be blind to the citizens of this city/county and call upon our schools to offer full opportunities for training to blind people; public and private employers to use the available skills of competent blind people and to open new opportunities for the blind in our rapidly changing society; and all citizens to recognize the white cane as an instrument of safety and self-help for blind pedestrians on our streets and highways.


Richard Payne,  President
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
937-396-5573or 937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back

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