Event raises awareness on visually-impaired rights
WHITE Cane Safety Day is a law- mandated celebration every August that aims to promote the well- being of the visually- impaired and raise awareness on their plight and rights.
Showing its commitment to welcome persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the mall and other properties of Araneta Center, Farmers Plaza hosted the White Cane Safety Day event, showing its commitment to welcome PWDs in the mall and other properties around the Araneta Center. The event was attended by 150 visuallyimpaired children and their families. Officials distributed white canes to
select visually- impaired children and stressed the importance of helping PWD visitors around the center.
“We celebrate White Cane Day because we want to create awareness especially for people who are using white canes, because most of the population do not know what a white cane is. Some think it’s a toy, but it is a tool used by the visually-impaired for mobility so that they can walk with dignity,” said Leo Lee, president of the Parent Advocates for Visually-Impaired Children , which spearheaded the activity.
Farmers Plaza assistant property manager Ivy Naldeza, meanwhile, said that mall security personnel are briefed every day to assist PWDs, the blind especially.
“When our guards see them, they immediately assist them,” she said.
“It’s very important to raise awareness since a lot of people really don’t understand. We have to know the plight of these people, and when you know how they feel, you become eager to help them,” she added.
Araneta Center’s support for the White Cane cause is just one way of pushing for its corporate social responsibility projects. Last April, the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum was decked with blue lights in support of the World Autism Awareness Day. Its frontliners are also undergoing regular disability sensitivity trainings.
The event featured speeches from advocates of the blind, which highlighted the success of the visually- impaired despite their conditions.
After the speeches, the visually- impaired children, their parents and some blindfolded guests were given a tour of the Farmers Plaza in a visual representation of what it is like to walk with dignity despite their condition.
Grab Philippines has also a program for PWDs. Country head Brian Cu, himself a parent of a child with a hearing impairment, said that to avail of the discount, just send an email to Grab Philippines bearing the PWD’s ID to get a special code for automatic discount on the rides.