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. |