Oct 6, 2016
Rochester, NY – The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) today announced its participation in the celebration of the 52nd National White Cane Day, which takes place each year on October 15 and serves to highlight the significance of the white cane as a tool of independence for people who are blind or visually impaired.
ABVI’s White Cane Day celebration, taking place at the organization’s main campus at 422 South Clinton Avenue in Rochester from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14, provides the opportunity for people with vision loss who use a white cane to have it tuned up by certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists. The tune up includes: having it checked for safety and having it re-taped to enhance its reflective white finish. Additional mobility-related items are also available for people to try and/or purchase.
According to ABVI’s O&M specialists, the white cane identifies a person as someone who is blind or visually impaired and also allows her/him to preview the environment. The environmental information aids the individual in deciding how to proceed along their route. Through the training process, ABVI’s O&M specialists hope to alleviate some of the stress people who are blind or visually impaired may be feeling by teaching the individual or family safe travel techniques.
To learn more about ABVI’s Orientation and Mobility services, as well as all of the Vision Rehabilitation Services ABVI offers, please call the agency at (585) 232-1111.