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WHITE CANE:

Identification for the blind

“Clickety clack, clickety clack”..... no, it’s not the sound of high heeled shoes of a fashionable lass. It’s the tapping of a White Cane user - blind persons. The Cane serves not only to identify the blind, it guides, it directs and protects the user. It is a multifaceted lifeline for the blind.

In tracing the origin of the White Cane, it is observed that the end of the First World War around 1915 brought along a series of consequential developments, some of which have left an indelible impression on history.

Amongst the surviving war casualties there were a large number of visually handicapped persons. This induced Dr. Richard Hoover of the Lions Movement in Pennsylvania, U.S.A, to innovate and introduce the White Cane in the 1920s.

Further more In 1921 James Biggs, photographer from Bristol, who had gone blind, found difficulty in walking across traffic as his cane was not sufficiently visible to motorists. So he painted his Cane White. This is the second reason for the cane being white. As white also denoted peace.

The first known major distribution of white cane had taken place in Philadelphia, USA, in the 1930s. In 1930 Goorge A. Bonham, a Lions Club member, observed a blind man attempting to cross the street through traffic with a black Cane that was hardly visible to motorists against the dark background of the pavement. Thus, the introduction of the White Cane in the United States is also attributed to Goorge Bonham.

In 1931 in France, Guilly D’Hermont, launched a National White Cane Movement for blind persons.

In 1952 when there were a high number of World War 2 casualities with visual impairments the White Cane came into prominence again.

The White Cane helps to identify a person as being blind or visually handicapped. It assists the user to clear a safe path ahead by diagonally tapping a Cane in a half-circle. It also assists to identify the surface on which the user is walking whether hard or soft, rough or smooth.

Further, by tapping the Cane on adjacent or adjoining structures or surfaces, such as Walls, Trees, etc the user is able to get some idea of his location bearings and direction.

The methods of using the White Cane for improving mobility and orient-action have advanced considerably during the past several decades.

The Lions Movement in the USA was exhorted by Helen Keller, the renowned blind and multi-disabled intellectual and social worker, to develop and promote the use of White Canes.

In Sri Lanka presentation of White Canes was initiated by Col. C.P. Jayawardana of the Colombo South Lions, to the students of the school for the Blind, Ratmalana, in 1957 at a ceremony held at the Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo.

International, White Cane Day has special significance for the blind community in Sri Lanka since it was first proclaimed in Sri Lanka in 1969 at the 2nd Convention of the International Federation of the Blind (IFB) on October 15, 1969 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. The then Prime Minister late Dudley Senanayaka and Prime Minister and President J.R. Jayewardene (Then Minister of State) were both present at this occasion.

The Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) which is the pioneer and premier national self-help organisation of the visually handicapped community is the only organisation which has been continuously marking International White Cane Day since its inception in 1974, with a public awareness meeting and a series of other events.

The Lions Movement has been closely involved with the SLFVH and other organisations in White Cane Day activities.

The Sri Lanka standards Institute has laid down specifications for the manufacture of White Canes.

These developments opened the door to dignity, respect and opportunity for blind persons. White Canes are referred to in various forms such as Long Cane, Collapsible Cane (Folding Cane), Support Cane, Kiddie Cane, Identification Came, Symbol Cane, Guide Cane and Extending Cane.

The long Cane is in one piece whilst the more popular variety is the collapsible (Folding) Cane which can be generally folded into 4 or 5 pieces and carried in a hand bag.

There is controversy on whether the Long Cane or the Collapsible Cane is more useful and effective. While those who favour the long straight Cane contend that it affords more safety, because of its extra length.

On the other hand, those who favour the collapsible Cane counter that the benefits of the long Cane do not outweigh the facility of folding and carrying a Collapsible Cane in public transport and other crowded places.

Reflective tape or paint is used in order that the headlights of motor vehicles will reflect off the Cane and alert drivers and riders at night that a blind person is walking ahead.

The White Cane is manufactured from light-weight Aluminium tubing. The price of a White Cane produced locally is between Rs. 200 to Rs. 250. There are two local White Cane manufacturers and their total production is around 2,000 per year. The standard size of a Cane is 3 feet 9 inches.

In addition, White Canes are also imported from India and sold at the same price as locally manufactured ones. The Local White Cane production is on a self-employment basis. White Canes are not freely available especially to blind persons in rural areas.

Thus a blind person from the Provinces is compelled to make a long journey to Colombo or spend a few hundred rupees to send a relation or friend to Colombo to obtain a White Cane.

It is only on or around International White Cane Day in October, when Provincial Branches of the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped or Lions Clubs take supplies of White Canes to the outstations for distribution.

It should be the responsibility of the Social Services Department and the Provincial Social Services Ministers to coordinate with the District and Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladaries to ensure that White Cane users in rural areas have easy access to obtain a White Cane.

Similarly, there is controversy on the effectiveness of guide dogs and White Canes. Of course the high cost of maintaining a guide dog reduces to a great extent the number of blind people who can afford to use guide dogs.

The main objective of using the White Cane is to focus attention and evoke spontaneous response to the needs and aspirations of the visually handicapped community.

By improving the mobility of blind persons, the White Cane has played a major role in transforming the public image of a blind person from a mere object of charity to that of a talented and useful citizen like their sighted sisters and brothers. Public are urged to utilise improving the quality of life of the blind community.

“Nothing about us without us” is a traditional concept of the blind well-weshers and benefactors are urged to interact with organisations of the blind or the blind individuals and co-ordinate and liaise with them in developing and promoting the interests of the blind.

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Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
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