LIHU‘E — A white cane symbolizes freedom and independence for the blind and visually impaired.
Thursday, approximately 30 people, many of them blind, all carrying white canes, gathered at Kukui Grove Center for the White Cane Safety Awareness Day Walk.
The event was sponsored by the Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i Chapter. It is the fifth year for the event on Kaua‘i, according to Dianne Mikami, a six-year member of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club.
“We (Lions) do it every year,” she said. “It is important because the Lions Club is for sight and hearing.”
White Cane Safety Awareness Day promotes pedestrian safety and a greater awareness of the white cane.
Although unable to attend Thursday’s event himself, Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. showed his support by proclaiming Oct. 4 as White Cane Day throughout the County of Kaua‘i, as well as recognizing the contributions of those who are blind or visually impaired.
In his proclamation, Mayor Carvalho wrote that “the primary problem with blindness is the public’s lack of knowledge and misunderstanding regarding the abilities of blind people.”
Patricia Shaddock was one of several at the event who agrees.
Shaddock, 63, lost the vision in her left eye due to diabetes at age 49. She says it is important people understand that those who are blind or visually impaired like to get out and do things, just like everyone else.
“We enjoy life, too,” she said. “I’m so glad I am still out and about.”
Before Thursday’s walk got under way, Elizabeth Villasista could be spotted at a table reading Braille from large white pages. She lost the vision in her right eye in 2009. The vision in her left followed just a year later.
Today, after nine months of training at Ho‘opono, a branch of the Hawai‘i Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind, located in Honolulu, Villsista says she can do all the things she could before, only differently — thread needles, cook, shop and even sew.
Villasista says the key is to listen and try not to get frustrated, which she often struggles with herself.
“I want people to know that as a blind person, I still want to be free,” she said. “We are still the same.”
Following a demonstration of a mobile personal reading device by Stan Young, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Hawai‘i, participants hit the pavement, white canes in hand. As they walked they repeated what is known as the “White Cane Day Cheer,” each time followed by applause.
As a visually impaired person, Shaddock says the most important thing is never giving up.
“Just turn the page,” she says. “If you love life, you just get on with it. We have to make due.”
Oct. 15 is designated as National White Cane Day. Furthermore, the National Federation of the Blind has established the third week in May as White Cane Week.
• Chris D’Angelo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@ thegardenisland.com.
