Community and State Officials Gather to Celebrate White Cane Safety Day
October 15, 2015
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Community and State Officials Gather to Celebrate White Cane Safety Day
Tallahassee, Fla., October 15, 2015 – For 10-year-old Paloma Rambana, she says the feeling she received when she earned her Girls Scouts’ Junior Independence badge is the same sense of accomplishment visually impaired children get when walking with a white cane. Paloma shared her inspiring story of success during today’s White Cane Safety Day event at the Historic Capitol in Tallahassee.
“This badge means I have started on the road to feeling confident on my own, showing my family they can trust me and getting comfortable striding down my own path,” said Paloma, an advocate for children who are blind and visually impaired. Like my Girl Scout badge, the white cane is an important symbol of independence for blind and visually impaired people. The white cane and devices like my handheld magnifier named Lucille, help people like me to ride solo, feel confident and change the world.”
Created in 1964, White Cane Safety Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of those who are blind and visually impaired, as well as remind motorists of the correct traffic procedures when sharing the road with persons walking with a white cane or a service animal. According to the National Federation of the Blind, more than 7.3 million Americans and nearly 495,000 Floridians have a visual disability.
“Thanks to the hard work of our fellow state agencies and the many disabilities advocates who have fought for equality for Floridians with disabilities, students who are blind or visually impaired are achieving greater academic and career success than ever before,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “Through the department’s Division of Blind Services, we are proud to help residents with disabilities lead the most independent lives possible by providing critical services for residents of all ages.”
During the event, representatives from local organizations and agencies, such as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), the City of Tallahassee, the Department of Health, the Lighthouse of the Big Bend, the Florida State University Student Disability Resource Center and the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, provided information about available support products and services for people who are disabled or visually impaired.
One of the keys services FDOE provides is career assistance. During the 2014-2015 fiscal year, 761 blind/visually impaired individuals successfully achieved gainful employment, and 98.29 percent earned at least minimum wage, and on average, $14.34 per hour.
“The Florida Department of Health is proud to be involved in celebrating White Cane Day,” said Deputy Secretary for County Health Systems Kim Barnhill. “We have a large population of people with unique abilities in Florida, and it’s our responsibility to foster safe environments so they can continue to lead healthy and productive lives.”
With the slogan, “Brake 4 the Cane,” guests were reminded of Florida’s White Cane Law, which mandates that whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway with a guide dog or white cane, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection or place where the pedestrian is attempting to cross must bring his or her vehicle to a full stop before proceeding.
“FDOT is proud to host this event in Tallahassee to highlight the importance of our vulnerable road users – especially visually impaired pedestrians with white canes,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold. “At FDOT, safety is our priority and we want to make roadways safe for all pedestrians, including white cane users.”
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