White Cane Day 2021: Voices from the new leaders of the World Blind Union

October 15, 2021 3:12 am Published by Aurelien Dayde

The World Blind Union (WBU) is observing White Cane Safety Day on Friday 15th October 2021. White Cane Safety Day reminds the world of the importance of the White Cane as a tool for independent living for persons who are blind and partially sighted.

The new leadership of the World Blind Union came together in a digital campaign to promote the independence and freedom of movement of blind and partially sighted people.

As we commemorate the white cane day, it is the hope of the whole disability rights movement that policy makers recognize the importance of the right of blind and partially sighted persons to travel independently and safely in a universally accessible environment, and the use of the white cane, and that persons who are blind and partially sighted understand the value of having and using the white cane and keeping it sanitized for the safety of all.

As the world grapples with the impact of COVID-19, we take this opportunity to remind law and policy makers and all stakeholders involved to ensure that designing or redesigning proper infrastructure adheres to COVID-19 protocols, that universal design is considered and everyone is sensitized. It is necessary for all of us to adjust to the “new normal” and in doing so, no one must be left behind.

In 2020, the World Blind Union (WBU) conducted a study to examine the extent to which COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some deep structural inequalities in society. Data gathered from the study is evidencing that persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds are among those hardest hit by the pandemic. While this report puts a spotlight on the voices of blind and partially sighted persons, many of the experiences shared strongly resonate with numerous other studies that are also highlighting how marginalized groups have been affected by this crisis. Through this report, COVID-19, Amplifying Voices: Our Lives, Our Say, WBU hopes to raise awareness on the specifics of what those challenges have meant in reality for its constituents, as well as shed light on what have been effective resilience strategies for them. The study was made possible with the support of CBM Global.

You can download the report on this link.

The voices from the leaders of the World Blind Union are available on WBU Twitter account and below.

This illustration is a tweet from the WBU digital campaign to celebrate White Cane Day 2021

“The World Blind Union commemorates #WhiteCaneSafetyDay today to highlight its significance as an important tool for independent living for persons who are blind and partially sighted.” Party popper Martine Abel-Williamson @BlindUnion President #WhiteCaneDay

#WhiteCaneSafetyDay ”Blind and partially sighted persons want to travel independently and safely in a universally accessible environment: the white cane has become a symbol of freedom, independence, and confidence.” says @attitudefr_go Fernando Riaño, WBU First Vice-President.

Yaw Ofori-Debra @oforidebra is the World Second Vice-President: “The #WhiteCane is our mobility enabler.” Party popper Celebrate #WhiteCaneDay with us today to promote the freedom of movement and independence of #blind and partially sighted people.

“During the pandemic, it became difficult for #WhiteCane users to go out on their own. One concrete example among many is the use of non-tactile self-distancing markers on the ground. The impossibility to feel them limits our autonomy.” Diana Stentoft, WBU General Secretary.

#WhiteCaneDay @BlindUnion Treasurer Diane Bergeron “We remind States parties to the convention about important articles 9 on accessibility & 19 on independent living including #SDGs 11 on making cities inclusive so blind and partially sighted people can navigate independently”