Community

White Cane Awareness Day Walk is Thursday in Baker Park

CBA Vision Rehabilitation Services will celebrate White Cane Awareness Day on Thursday, Oct. 15, with its annual White Cane Awareness Day Walk.

The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Baker Park, located at the corners of W. Fourth and W. Fifth streets and Clinton Street in Jamestown.

Observed internationally each year on Oct. 15, White Cane Awareness Day recognizes the importance of the white cane as a tool that promotes independence, confidence, and mobility for individuals who are visually impaired. Attendees will gather at Baker Park for a special proclamation and remarks from CBA Vision Rehabilitation Services leaders before taking a short walk around the park. Participants will also have an opportunity to learn more about the significance of the white cane and the independence it provides to individuals with vision impairment. Following the walk, refreshments will be served at the CBA Vision Rehabilitation Services office, 510 W. Fifth St., across from the park.

CBA Vision Rehabilitation Services is a local nonprofit organization that provides services to individuals who are legally blind throughout Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Programs include services such as vision rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training, and braille instruction. The white cane is a recognized symbol of blindness and visual impairment and is an important tool that promotes greater independence and confidence in mobility.

White Cane Safety Awareness Day was first recognized in the United States in 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed Oct. 15 as White Cane Safety Awareness Day. Since then, the day has provided an opportunity for CBA, their clients, and the community to come together to celebrate the independence and achievements of individuals who use white canes, guide dogs, and other tools to navigate their daily lives. It also serves as an important reminder of the role the community plays in recognizing and respecting the white cane as a symbol of independence and mobility.

For more information about the White Cane Awareness Day Walk or CBA's programs and services, or to learn how to participate, contact CBA Vision Rehabilitation Services at 716-664-6660 or visit cbavision.org. CBA is a United Way community partner.