News

White Cane Awareness Campaign ends

October 25, 2015 1:19 am

The two week long white cane awareness campaign has ended with the celebration of White Cane Safety Day in Suva yesterday.

White Cane Safety day is an annual event organized by United Blind Persons of Fiji and Fiji Society for the Blind.

Chief guest Assistant Minister for Youths and Sports Iliesa Delana says people should promote recognition and acceptance of the white cane as a symbol of need for the visually impaired individuals.

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_"The white can be perceived by many as a symbol of blindness or visual impairment. White canes are recognized for providing the visually impaired with greater mobility, allowing them to participate more within their communities. Blind and visually impaired people have used canes as mobility tools for centuries but it was not until after World War 1 that the white cane was properly introduced."

The two organisations visited schools and other businesses to conduct the White Cane Awareness Campaign – educating the public on the uses of the white cane as a mobility tool.