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Media Minute – White Cane Day

Large group of students outdoors, some in TSBVI Wildcat cheerleading suits, hold a banner saying "Welcome to White Cane Day." Large, festive helium balloons float in the crowd.

This October we celebrate the 60th anniversary of White Cane Day! On October 6, 1964, a Joint Resolution of Congress, was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim October 15th of each year as “White Cane Safety Day.” This Media Minute post will feature how TSBVI has celebrated White Cane Day through the years and will cover all aspects of the Austin White Cane Day event – gathering at the old Municipal building downtown in 2003, dancing in the bowl-shaped Woolridge Park, marching down Congress Avenue from the Texas State Capitol and past current City Hall, splashing in the fountain at Republic Square Park from 2006-2015, and finally convening on the TSBVI campus when we became the host in 2016! Read below to find out where you can celebrate White Cane Day in your local area!

TSBVI students give impactful speeches at White Cane Day. Please enjoy these two videos. In the first during White Cane Day 2022, the TSBVI Student Council President tells us what they like about White Cane Day.

 

In the second video from White Cane Day 2023, Mark, a TSBVI Comprehensive Programs student, tells us how he uses his cane:

The White Cane Day event in Austin is known for its colorful and unique T-shirt designs. Many of the shirts over the past twenty years are described on the official White Cane Day website. Artwork by two TSBVI Comprehensive Programs students was selected for the 2019 and 2021 T-Shirts!

TSBVI’s podcast, A Sense of Texas, featured White Cane Day in two episodes. In October 2023, A Sense of Texas highlighted many voices from our community to share their feelings about White Cane Day.  In October 2021 TSBVI High School Student, Mike, and Jeff Molzow, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center both spoke about the 2021 White Cane Day event, which had a virtual component due to the pandemic that Mike emceed along with members of the Texas Workforce Commission.

White Cane Day is a popular subject for articles in TX SenseAbilities, TSBVI’s magazine. Local news is also drawn to cover White Cane Day with positive and empowering stories. The event has been featured on KXAN, KLRU Decibel, Fox 7, Spectrum news, and in the Austin American Stateman. This year’s Southwest Orientation and Mobility Association (SWOMA) Conference is at the Austin Marriott North in Round Rock, TX November 3-5, 2024. Registration is open and topics include physical activity for children with visual impairments and complex needs, tech tools, tactile maps, and how artificial intelligence can augment traditional O&M skills.

In 2022 Superintendent Emily Coleman interviewed two students, Wealthy and Jared, in the EXIT program to share their perspective on White Cane Day. When asked how the white cane has empowered her in her life, Wealthy responded, “The White Cane has helped me be independent, helps me walk around campus independently, and makes sure I don’t trip over stuff and basically guides me on different paths.” Please enjoy their sentiments in the video below.

This year’s White Cane Day event in Austin is on Wednesday, October 16th on the TSBVI campus. For more information and to find a White Cane Day celebration in your area, please visit the official White Cane Day website!