[Nfbf-l] Meet the Blind - Greater Daytona Beach Area

Mon Oct 12 02:10:30 UTC 2009

Hello Everyone,
Here's a summery of the goings on at the Meet the Blind Activity held in our
area this past Friday. Regretfully I was unable to attend but I sure am
proud of the many blind participants who made the event such a resounding
success. 

Please read on.

Kathy Davis

The Daytona Beach News-Journal published two articles on our event Friday
(seen below).

There was a great turnout and participation by staff (including Ed Hudson,
Robert Kelly and Ronee Hudson) and students at the Orientation and
Adjustment Center, HCB, NFBF, HAVOC, Conklin Center and CVI.  At least one
war veteran was present.  Members of the Ormond By-The-Sea Lions Club were
everywhere, helping out.

Mayor Roland Via did a masterful job as master of ceremonies and County
Council Chair Frank Bruno also read a proclamation.  Holly Hill Chief of
Police Mark Barker spoke on the importance of the White Cane Laws and
pedestrian responsibility. All three walked the intersection under blind
fold, as did several officers. Officers stood on all 4 corners informing
motorists waiting at the intersection of the law and one on motorcycle
pursued cars that disobeyed the law. Other officials present included Ormond
Beach Mayor Fred Costello and David Laing of WNDB radio. 

Publix lent us a table by their store and gave us permission to sell items. 

Sonics was terrific! Not only did they allow us to use an entire section of
tables and electricity for the PA System the Holly Hill Police brought, but
they also gave us 50% off drinks and allowed us to park our white van with
the White Cane Safety Banner on their grassy lot at the NW corner of
Ridgewood and Calle Grande.  Their Mr. Sonics character, dressed as a hot
dog, stood by the van, motioning a thumbs up to passing motorists. Sonics
also gave us permission to sell items. 

As seen by the articles below, both a photographer and reporter came from
the Daytona Beach News-Journal.  Claire Metz of WESH Channel 2 TV and a
cameraman came by and were observed interviewing some of the participants.

Thanks to the following NFBF members who participated in the event:

Allen Bornstein

Mike Bowmer

Peter Cerullo

David Dixon

Holly Idler

Patricia Lipovsky

Bill Outman

Jean S

Steve Williamson

Joseph Young

Thanks to Allen Bornstein for his donation of Sonics coupons, which were
later misplaced by Doug and Nancy.  Once found, we will distribute them to
those who participated.

Thanks also to Mary Tyson of HCB, for arranging Doug's speaking engagement
with the Volusia-Flagler Police Chief's Association (VFPCA) on the White
Cane Safety Law and Pedestrian Safety.

And a final thanks to Mayor Roland Via, for inviting Doug Hall and David
Dixon to WNDB radio's morning talk show Thursday, October 8th.

We received much positive feedback from the owner of Sonics, his staff and
the manager of Publix, as well as Mayor Roland Via and the Holly Hill
Police, who welcomed us back in the future. 

__________________________________________

October 8, 2009 Daytona Beach News-Journal

In Brief

Drivers offered tips on White Cane Safety Day 

Government officials and advocates will educate drivers Friday in Holly Hill
on safety guidelines when approaching the blind, visually impaired and
others with mobility limitations crossing local streets. 

An event for National White Cane Safety Day will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
on Friday at the intersection of Ridgewood Avenue and Calle Grande in Holly
Hill. Holly Hill Mayor Roland Via challenges all local mayors and government
officials to participate by crossing the intersection blindfolded or
mobility impaired. 

The day, which includes participants crossing the street, focuses the
attention on educating drivers to stop when a person with a visual
disability is crossing the street. 

The event is sponsored by Halifax Council of the Blind, Greater Daytona
Beach Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, Handicapped Adults of
Volusia County, the City of Holly Hill and other area agencies.

____________________________________________________________________________
_

October 10, 2009  Daytona Beach News-Journal

Blind pedestrians gather for driver awareness

By RON HURTIBISE,  STAFF WRITER 

ron.hurtibise at news-jrnl.com <blocked::mailto:ron.hurtibise at news-jrnl.com> 

HOLLY HILL - You'd think the driver of the little red coupe would have
figured it out.

Police officers on Friday stood on all four corners of the intersection of
Ridgewood Avenue and Calle Grande amid four groups of pedestrians - most
with white canes, service dogs or wheelchairs - taking part in an event to
build awareness of laws requiring drivers to yield to blind and handicapped
pedestrians.

As the groups made their way across southbound Ridgewood, eastbound Calle
Grande, north-bound Ridgewood, and so on, scraping the tips of their white
canes across the asphalt to guide their way, most motorists got the message
and waited their turns.

Not the driver of the red car.

The traffic light and pedestrian signal turned green, and the driver turned
right - in front of pedestrians beginning to cross Ridgewood.

One officer got on his radio, and the driver was soon parked in front of a
set of flashing blue police lights.

Happy White Cane Awareness Day.

The event is staged annually to make motorists aware of the White Cane Law,
which requires vehicles to stop anytime a person with a white cane or guide
dog is attempting to cross the street.

Blind services advocate Doug Hall said the event normally takes place on
Oct. 15. But that day falls during Biketoberfest this year. ''No way I'm
going to try to cross the street as 100,000 motorcycles go by,'' he said.

Sponsors include the Halifax Council of the Blind, Greater Daytona Beach
Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, Handicapped Adults of
Volusia County, and the city of Holly Hill.

Holly Hill Mayor Roland Via and County Chairman Frank Bruno donned blinders
and grabbed canes to experience the challenge of sightless street crossing.

 ''It was very interesting,'' Via said later. ''You have to rely on the
sound of the vehicles, and learn to trust the cane.''

That's not enough when motorists aren't vigilant, said Mike Bowmer, a blind
Holly Hill resident who has been struck by cars three times in three years.

In 2006, he was walking with his guide dog across Ridgewood Avenue and
Walker Street when they were hit. Both Bowmer's legs were broken. Police
didn't cite the driver, saying Bowmer was wearing dark clothes and the
driver didn't see the dog.

Bowmer said he hopes the event will help convince motorists to ''just be
aware that I can't see them. I just want them to give me the opportunity to
go across.''

That's the message police gave the driver of the red coupe, and four others
they pulled over during the event. No one actually got a ticket, Police
Chief Mark Barker said.

 ''We wanted to make it an awareness day, rather than an enforcement
initiative,'' Barker said. ''It was a great day.''

Color Photo Below

News-Journal/ JIM TILLER 

[Photo Caption] Holly Idler helps a blindfolded County Chairman Frank Bruno
cross the street in Holly Hill on Friday for White Cane Awareness Day,
designed to educate drivers about those with sight and mobility limitations.

[also in the photo: Doug Hall (HCB member), David Dixon? (HAVOC member), ___
(veteran ? using a wheelchair) ___ (blonde woman), Steve Williamson (HCB and
NFBF member) and Joseph Young (NFBF member).

  _____  

[Black and White Photo below of Bill Outman (NFBF member), Joany Arosko and
Barbara Coleman (students from the Orientation & Adjustment Center). Photo
taken from the ground, looking up at the cane tip, feet and to the clouds] 

[Photo Caption] Visually impaired residents navigate the intersection of
U.S. 1 and Calle Grande Avenue in Holly Hill as part of White Cane Awareness
Day on Friday.

News-Journal/ JIM TILLER 

White Cane Law 

Whenever a blind or mobility-impaired pedestrian is crossing or attempting
to cross a public street or highway, motorists must come to a full stop and
before proceeding, take such precautions necessary to avoid injuring the
pedestrian. This includes anyone guided by a service dog or carrying an
extended or raised white cane or walking stick, as well as anyone using a
walker, crutch, orthopedic cane or wheelchair.

It is unlawful for anyone not totally or partially blind or otherwise
incapacitated to carry a white cane or walking stick in a raised or extended
manner while on any public street. 

- Florida Statutes 316.1301 and 316.1303

_______________________________________________________

  _____  

Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. Get
<blocked::http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/> it now. 