Governor Henry McMaster signed a proclamation at the State House on October 15, declaring that White Cane Day. Among those in attendance were SCCB Commissioner Darline Graham, and Ed Bible, Treasurer for the Foundation for the SC Commission for the Blind.
The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities, to celebrate the abilities and successes achieved by blind people in a sighted world and to honor the many contributions being made by the blind and visually impaired.
The white cane is an essential tool that gives blind and visually impaired individuals the ability to achieve a full and independent life. It allows them to move freely and safely from place to place—whether it’s at work, at school, or around their neighborhoods.
In 1964, Congress declared October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. While the white cane does keep blind people safe (because drivers and other pedestrians can easily see it), it is also a tool that blind people use to explore and navigate our environment. For this reason, the emphasis of White Cane Safety Day has shifted over time away from safety, and toward independence and equality. To emphasize the shift in focus from safety to independence, and to continue to use the white cane as a symbol, the National Federation of the Blind has chosen to refer to this day as White Cane Awareness Day.
Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
Lou Holtz