The National Federation of the Blind celebrates White Cane Awareness Day every year on October 15.
For blind people, the white cane is an essential tool that gives us the ability to achieve a full and independent life. It allows us to move freely and safely from place to place—whether it’s at work, at school, or around our neighborhoods.
While it was not uncommon throughout history for blind people to use a stick or cane to navigate, society largely didn’t accept that blind people could travel by ourselves until recently.
In the 1960s, the National Federation of the Blind became a leader in fighting for the rights of the blind and in pioneering innovative training programs using the white cane. At our urging, the United States Congress adopted a joint resolution in 1964 designating October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day and recognizing that white canes enable blind people to travel safely and independently.
While the white cane does keep blind people safe, it is also a tool that blind people use to explore and navigate their environment. For this reason, the 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, each country has chosen to refer to this day as White Cane Awareness Day.
A study by a group of experts shows that the number of blind people will increase to nearly 115 million people by 2050. In addition, in 2050, presbyopia will affect about one billion people over 55 years of age in the world.
Most of the people suffering from blindness or visual impairment are and will be residents of South Asian countries now and in the future, and women with more than 54 percent are affected more than men.
After South Asia, the regions of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and then other regions of this continent and the continent of Africa will face such problems more than other parts of the world. The increase in population and the increase in the proportion of elderly people in the total population are the main factors of these changes.
In Afghanistan, based on official statistics released by relevant government organs, there are more than 500,000 blind people mostly women in Afghanistan. It also says that 1,000 people lose the sight of at least one of their eyes every year.
High blood pressure, heart diseases and diabetes, microbial eye diseases, delay in the treatment of eye diseases, marriages within the family and heredity are among the factors that make a person suffer from blindness.
The life of this segment of the society, which naturally faces many challenges and needs the attention of those in charge. From problems in education, livelihood, financial and spiritual life matters and their social status, they are in trouble and need that all should work for them. Disability is a limitation and should be supported by disability policies, laws and strategies so that the government can use of their capacity for the development of society.
The white cane is the flag of independence of a blind person. White Cane Day is not a day of pity. It is the day to recognize the independence and rights of the blind.
Zarabi
The number of blind people to increase to 115 million in 30 years
