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White Cane Safety Day Celebrated Oct 15 by Heartland Council of the Blind and State Disability Agency

Caption #1: Heartland Council of the Blind walkers took to the streets for White Cane Safety Day to let the public know they are productive and independent members of the community.

Caption #2: The public is invited to join the Heartland Council of the Blind and other visually impaired Oklahomans for a stroll around Bricktown at 11 a.m. on Oct. 15.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Approximately 18,000 Oklahomans are legally blind, according to Sandi Webster, the president of the Heartland Council of the Blind. In spite of advancing technology, she says the traditional white cane is still a vital tool enabling people who are blind to travel safely and independently.

On Wed., Oct. 15th, Heartland Council members, other visually impaired Oklahomans and sighted supporters will celebrate White Cane Safety Awareness Day with stroll around the Bricktown area. The public is invited to join the group at 11 a.m. in the parking area at the northwest corner of Joe Carter and Reno avenues.

“White Cane Safety Day is a golden opportunity to let the public know that blind and visually impaired people are doers − givers − that we lead productive and independent lives in our complex society,” Webster said. “We are hoping for a huge turnout again this year of people of all ages using canes or dogs or walking with sighted friends.”

White Cane Safety Day was first established by presidential proclamation in 1964 to increase public awareness about the meaning of the white cane with red tips and travel safety needs of citizens who use them.

Legal blindness occurs when vision is 20/200 or more in the better eye with the best possible correction, or the visual field is restricted to 20 degrees or less.

Under Oklahoma law, only blind people may carry white canes, or white canes tipped with red, which are universally recognized as mobility aids for people with vision impairments.

“Oklahoma law requires drivers to completely stop their vehicles 15 feet away from pedestrians who are visually impaired and identified by their use of white canes with red tips or dog guides," Division of Visual Services Administrator Jane Nelson explained.

The same law protects people who are deaf or hard of hearing using signal dogs identified by bright orange collars and those with physical disabilities using assistance dogs.

In 2002, the Oklahoma legislature lengthened the stopping distance from three to the 15 feet currently required by state law.

The Heartland Council of the blind is a group of blind, visually impaired and sighted people from central Oklahoma who socialize, discuss issues related to visual impairment and advocate for a better life. Heartland Council is a chapter of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.

For more information about White Cane Safety Day or Heartland Council of the Blind, contact Vicky Golightly at (405) 740-6227 or e-mail or Kathleen Kennedy at (405) 751-5956 or e-mail.

DRS’ Division of Visual Services operates a wide range of programs for Oklahomans who are blind or visually impaired, including vocational rehabilitation, employment, independent living skills training and special library services. Contact the nearest Visual Services' office, call (800) 487-4042 or visit www.okrehab.org/services_vsservices.html.

Please note that estimates of the number of people experiencing vision loss differ based on the definitions of vision loss used, as well as on the dates the data were collected, populations surveyed, and other features of data sources.

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