10-19-2024 11:14am

White Cane Safety Day Celebrated in Alamogordo and Via a Presidential Statement

Chris Edwards Editor

Students at the New Mexico School of the Blind and Visually Impaired campus, along with the NM Commission for the Blind and other community supporters gathered for a white cane walking parade around campus, followed by speeches, music, and snacks in the historic rose garden.

Since 1964, White Cane Safety Day has been a day to recognize the independence white canes give to people with visual impairment, as well as bringing awareness to motorists and the community.

On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, H.R. 753, was signed into law as Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 88–628, and codified at 36 U.S.C. § 142.

The resolution authorized the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day".

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first White Cane Safety Day proclamation within hours of the passage of the joint resolution.

In 2011, White Cane Safety Day was also named Blind Americans Equality Day by President Barack Obama

(Photo Collage Description: At top: Two male students are seen in profile, walking on White Sands Blvd. on a sunny day, carrying a banner mounted on a pole that reads, "White Cane Safety Day, New Mexico Commission for the Blind, National Federation of the Blind, New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. At bottom right: A line of students and staff at NMSBVI are seen from the front, using their white canes to navigate outside the Watkins Education Building on a sunny day. The NMSBVI logo is at bottom left.)

President Joe Biden issued a statement in recognition of the day...

"This Blind Americans Equality Day, we honor the immense contributions of blind and low vision Americans, who help power our economy and push our Nation forward. And we recommit to ensuring every blind and low vision person in this country has a fair shot at the American Dream.

Throughout my decades in public service, I have strived to build an America that works for all Americans. It is why I was proud to co-sponsor the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act — a civil rights law that banned discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life. I remain proud of its lasting legacy today. However, there is still more to do to ensure that blind and low vision Americans have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. From transportation to online job applications, public services are too often designed in ways that are inaccessible for people with disabilities. And less than half of blind or low vision Americans are employed.

My Administration is committed to ensuring blind and low vision Americans have equal opportunities. To that end, I signed an Executive Order to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal Government and to identify the barriers faced by job applicants and employees with disabilities. We are also requiring Federal agencies to prioritize website accessibility so the Government can truly deliver for all Americans. These are important steps toward making the Federal Government the gold standard for fair, accessible, and decent practices in the workplace. Furthermore, my Administration is ensuring that blind and low vision Americans hired by the Federal Government are paid a fair wage. That is why we ended the use of unfair sub‑minimum wages in Federal contracts. At the same time, we are working to increase hiring for people with disabilities in every sector by helping governments, businesses, and nonprofits access Federal funds to hire more disabled Americans.

I am also working to make public spaces more accessible for blind and low vision Americans. Through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are investing $1.75 billion — the largest amount ever — in making transit and rail stations more accessible. The General Services Administration also adopted the United States Access Board’s new guidelines to ensure people with disabilities have access to the over 300,000 Federal Government buildings. And the National Institutes of Health designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities, opening up new research opportunities that will focus on health issues and unmet needs for blind and low vision Americans.

This Blind Americans Equality Day, may we recommit to advancing accessibility and opportunities for blind and low vision Americans, who do so much for our Nation and deserve every opportunity to thrive.

By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public Law 88-628, as amended), the Congress authorized October 15 of each year as “White Cane Safety Day,” which is recognized today as “Blind Americans Equality Day,” to honor the contributions of blind and low vision Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2024, as Blind Americans Equality Day. I call upon all the people of the United States — including all government officials, educators, and volunteers — to mark this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.