October is White Cane Safety Awareness Month

Maggie practices white cane technique navigating student cottages.

On October 15 representatives from Perkins School for the Blind including students, orientation and mobility specialists, and Massachusetts Commisioner of the Blind Janet LaBreck, a Perkins alumna, participated in White Cane Safety Day at the Massachusetts State House.

The annual event raises public awareness about the state’s White Cane Law, which requires motorists to come to a complete stop when pedestrians with a white cane or a service dog cross a roadway. White Cane Safety Day also celebrates the ability of people with impaired vision to lead independent lives by using white canes and other mobility devices to successfully navigate a complex world.

Maggie's Story: Taking Steps Towards Independence

Four years ago, Maggie O'Reilly was afraid to take one step into open space alone. Today you’ll find Maggie cheerily bustling through the Perkins' hallways and strolling through student cottages. You can’t help but notice her upbeat personality and confident smile. “Maggie has gained so much confidence,” says Mary Trainor, a Perkins orientation and mobility specialist. Maggie's progress, including learning to use her white cane safely and effectively, has surpassed Trainor’s expectations by miles.

 Read Maggie's story in Perkins Insight eNewsletter about Orientation & Mobility.

About White Cane Law

The white cane allows a person who is legally blind to travel independently. In 1931, Lions Clubs began promoting the use of white canes for people who are blind as a national identification program. All states and many other countries have White Cane laws, which allow pedestrians who are legally blind the right of way at street crossings. Massachusetts White Cane Law states that all motorists, upon seeing a pedestrian who uses a dog guide or white cane at a street crossing, must come to a complete stop.

In recognition of International White Cane Day, here are a few guidelines regarding how to interact with someone who is blind or visually impaired:

• When in doubt, ask if the person needs assistance.
  
  
• Do not grab the person, cane or dog guide.
  
  
• Do not pet a dog guide.  Most dog guides are working & should not be petted since it can be distracting for the dog.
  
  
• Identify yourself when you come in to a room and let the person know when you are leaving a room or location.
  
  
• When you speak about someone with a disability, refer to the person and then to the disability. For example, refer to "a person who is blind" rather than to "a blind person."
  
  
• Always yield to white cane and dog guide users at street crossings - it's the law!