‘White Cane,’ symbol of mobility, independence

SINCE 1989, White Cane Safety Day has been observed in the Philippines on August 1 pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 6759, the White Cane Act, to instill awareness of the plight of the blind or visually impaired, celebrate their achievements, remind every Filipino of the duty to care for and accord them respect, and recognize and accept the “white cane,” their symbol of mobility and need for assistance as well as their tool of independence and equality.

Motorists and pedestrians are advised to take extra care when they see someone with a white cane, a sign that the person holding it is sight-impaired and is using the cane to detect obstacles on the road. It is a device that makes possible for him to move around on his own in both familiar and unfamiliar surroundings. There are three kinds of white cane – the standard mobility cane used to navigate, the support cane used by people with visual impairments, and the ID cane, a small, foldable cane used by people with partial sight.

The celebration, the first activity of Sight Saving Month – August – serves as vehicle of information on programs being implemented by government and non-government institutions to promote the rights and welfare of blind persons, and protect their physical, moral, and social well-being.

Leading the observance is the National Council on Disability Affairs, the government agency that formulates policies and coordinates the activities of all public and private offices concerning disability issues and concerns. It monitors the implementation of laws to ensure the protection of civil and political rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs), including the sight-impaired.

Apart from the White Cane Act, the Philippines has other laws that provide for full participation and equality for PWDs – RA 344, the Accessibility Law, which requires buildings, establishments, and public utilities to install access facilities; and RA 7277, Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which provides for rehabilitation, self-reliance, and integration of disabled persons i n t o t h e m a i n s t r e a m o f s o c i e t y. These laws embody the rights and entitlements of PWDs; they remove conditions such as discrimination that adversely affects their development. It is estimated that 10% of the Philippine population are PWDs, and 15% of these are persons with visual impairment.

The use of the white cane as symbol of visual impairment was started in 1921 by British photographer James Biggs, who lost his vision after an accident. Uneasy with traffic around his home, he painted his walking stick white to be more visible to pedestrians and motorists during nighttime. US President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized the importance of the white cane as a staff of independence for the blind, and proclaimed October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day in the US.