KAPA‘A — For Laura Miyashiro of Friendship House and the National Federation of the Blind Kaua‘i Chapter, every day is White Cane Day.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen this year,” Miyashiro said, fingering her own cane while talking about the Friendship House model. “No one has said anything.”
Leilani Mayer, the rehabilitation teacher for the blind at the state’s Department of Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, announced a virtual White Cane Walk that will take place Thursday, Oct. 15.
“O‘ahu will be putting together a statewide, prerecorded video in honor of White Cane Walk,” Mayer said. “The video will be live streaming online from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. via Youtube/Facebook on their Ho‘opono Services page.
Links will not be available until after 7 a.m. that day.
Janice Bond, president of the East Kaua‘i Lions Club, said Gavan Abe of Ho‘opono Services is asking for a couple more volunteers from the Kaua‘i chapter to record a 10-second video clip stating what the White Cane means to them.
“These clips need to be completed by Friday (Oct. 9),” Bond said. “I can send along a photo-release form. The videos can be texted to me at 645-0593 and I can forward to Gavan.”
White Cane Awareness Day is celebrated on Oct. 15 by the National Federation of the Blind.
“White Cane Awareness Day is our way of emphasizing the critical role that this tool plays in living the lives we want, and informing the public about its true significance,” said National Federation of the Blind President Mark A. Riccobono.
For blind people, the white cane is an essential tool that provides them the ability to achieve a full and independent life by allowing them to move freely and safely from place to place, whether it is at work, school or around the neighborhood.
“As far as the walk goes, everyone is encouraged to wear a past White Cane Walk shirt on Oct. 15,” Mayer said. “Simply talk to people about the white cane and what it symbolizes, and what it means to you. No matter where you are, by wearing the shirts in public, or by using the white cane, it will help spread awareness in our community. If anyone is interested, we can plan a small gathering while practicing social distancing, and do a mini-walk of our own. This is a new experience for us all.”
Ho‘opono Services provides statewide services to assist elderly blind and visually-impaired adults 55 years and older to adjust to their vision loss by developing new skills.
The National Federation of the Blind Kaua‘i Chapter meets virtually on the first Thursday of the month.
Info: 274-3333
