WHITE CANE: Identification for the blind
- From: "BlindNews Mailing List" <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:44:28 -0400
Ceylon Daily News, Sri Lanka
Monday, October 15, 2007
WHITE CANE: Identification for the blind
"Clickety clack, clickety clack"..... no, it's not the sound of high heeled
shoes of a fashionable lass. It's the tapping of a White Cane user - blind
persons. The Cane serves not only to identify the blind, it guides, it directs
and protects the user. It is a multifaceted lifeline for the blind.
In tracing the origin of the White Cane, it is observed that the end of the
First World War around 1915 brought along a series of consequential
developments, some of which have left an indelible impression on history.
Amongst the surviving war casualties there were a large number of visually
handicapped persons. This induced Dr. Richard Hoover of the Lions Movement in
Pennsylvania, U.S.A, to innovate and introduce the White Cane in the 1920s.
Further more In 1921 James Biggs, photographer from Bristol, who had gone
blind, found difficulty in walking across traffic as his cane was not
sufficiently visible to motorists. So he painted his Cane White. This is the
second reason for the cane being white. As white also denoted peace.
The first known major distribution of white cane had taken place in
Philadelphia, USA, in the 1930s. In 1930 Goorge A. Bonham, a Lions Club member,
observed a blind man attempting to cross the street through traffic with a
black Cane that was hardly visible to motorists against the dark background of
the pavement. Thus, the introduction of the White Cane in the United States is
also attributed to Goorge Bonham.
In 1931 in France, Guilly D'Hermont, launched a National White Cane Movement
for blind persons.
In 1952 when there were a high number of World War 2 casualities with visual
impairments the White Cane came into prominence again.
The White Cane helps to identify a person as being blind or visually
handicapped. It assists the user to clear a safe path ahead by diagonally
tapping a Cane in a half-circle. It also assists to identify the surface on
which the user is walking whether hard or soft, rough or smooth.
Further, by tapping the Cane on adjacent or adjoining structures or surfaces,
such as Walls, Trees, etc the user is able to get some idea of his location
bearings and direction.
The methods of using the White Cane for improving mobility and orient-action
have advanced considerably during the past several decades.
The Lions Movement in the USA was exhorted by Helen Keller, the renowned blind
and multi-disabled intellectual and social worker, to develop and promote the
use of White Canes.
In Sri Lanka presentation of White Canes was initiated by Col. C.P. Jayawardana
of the Colombo South Lions, to the students of the school for the Blind,
Ratmalana, in 1957 at a ceremony held at the Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo.
International, White Cane Day has special significance for the blind community
in Sri Lanka since it was first proclaimed in Sri Lanka in 1969 at the 2nd
Convention of the International Federation of the Blind (IFB) on October 15,
1969 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The then Prime Minister late Dudley
Senanayaka and Prime Minister and President J.R. Jayewardene (Then Minister of
State) were both present at this occasion.
The Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) which is the
pioneer and premier national self-help organisation of the visually handicapped
community is the only organisation which has been continuously marking
International White Cane Day since its inception in 1974, with a public
awareness meeting and a series of other events.
The Lions Movement has been closely involved with the SLFVH and other
organisations in White Cane Day activities.
The Sri Lanka standards Institute has laid down specifications for the
manufacture of White Canes.
These developments opened the door to dignity, respect and opportunity for
blind persons. White Canes are referred to in various forms such as Long Cane,
Collapsible Cane (Folding Cane), Support Cane, Kiddie Cane, Identification
Came, Symbol Cane, Guide Cane and Extending Cane.
The long Cane is in one piece whilst the more popular variety is the
collapsible (Folding) Cane which can be generally folded into 4 or 5 pieces and
carried in a hand bag.
There is controversy on whether the Long Cane or the Collapsible Cane is more
useful and effective. While those who favour the long straight Cane contend
that it affords more safety, because of its extra length.
On the other hand, those who favour the collapsible Cane counter that the
benefits of the long Cane do not outweigh the facility of folding and carrying
a Collapsible Cane in public transport and other crowded places.
Reflective tape or paint is used in order that the headlights of motor vehicles
will reflect off the Cane and alert drivers and riders at night that a blind
person is walking ahead.
The White Cane is manufactured from light-weight Aluminium tubing. The price of
a White Cane produced locally is between Rs. 200 to Rs. 250. There are two
local White Cane manufacturers and their total production is around 2,000 per
year. The standard size of a Cane is 3 feet 9 inches.
In addition, White Canes are also imported from India and sold at the same
price as locally manufactured ones. The Local White Cane production is on a
self-employment basis. White Canes are not freely available especially to blind
persons in rural areas.
Thus a blind person from the Provinces is compelled to make a long journey to
Colombo or spend a few hundred rupees to send a relation or friend to Colombo
to obtain a White Cane.
It is only on or around International White Cane Day in October, when
Provincial Branches of the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped or
Lions Clubs take supplies of White Canes to the outstations for distribution.
It should be the responsibility of the Social Services Department and the
Provincial Social Services Ministers to coordinate with the District and
Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladaries to ensure that White Cane users in
rural areas have easy access to obtain a White Cane.
Similarly, there is controversy on the effectiveness of guide dogs and White
Canes. Of course the high cost of maintaining a guide dog reduces to a great
extent the number of blind people who can afford to use guide dogs.
The main objective of using the White Cane is to focus attention and evoke
spontaneous response to the needs and aspirations of the visually handicapped
community.
By improving the mobility of blind persons, the White Cane has played a major
role in transforming the public image of a blind person from a mere object of
charity to that of a talented and useful citizen like their sighted sisters and
brothers. Public are urged to utilise improving the quality of life of the
blind community.
"Nothing about us without us" is a traditional concept of the blind
well-weshers and benefactors are urged to interact with organisations of the
blind or the blind individuals and co-ordinate and liaise with them in
developing and promoting the interests of the blind.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/10/15/fea02.asp
BlindNews Mailing List
Subscribe: BlindNews-Request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" as subject
Unsubscribe: BlindNews-Request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" as subject
Moderator: BlindNews-Moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Archive: http://GeoffAndWen.com/blind
RSS: http://GeoffAndWen.com/BlindNewsRSS.asp
More information about RSS feeds will be published shortly.
Other related posts:
- » WHITE CANE: Identification for the blind
