ACB Oct 15^th Events and Messaged for White Cane Day and Get Up & Get Moving

The Get up and Get Moving Sub-committee will host a live-streamed event on October 15^th to highlight Celebrating the importance of health and wellness for independence on White Cane Day. The event is The ACB Get Up & Get Moving Dance Party. The dance party will be live on October 15^th on ACB Media 4 Cafe: https://www.acbmedia.org/home/streams/media4/ starting at 2pm ET

ACB Messages

Event posts

0. ACB encourages all of our Affiliates and our Members to make a commitment to raise awareness of the importance of White Cane Day this year on October 15, 2021.

1. Get up & Get Moving Dance Party - Oct 15, 2021: Join us for the Get up and Get Moving Dance Party on October 15th to celebrate White Cana Day. We will be playing the chart toppers to inspire you, starting with the 1960s with DJ Darrow at 2 pm ET / 11am PT. The fun will continue all through the afternoon until we reach today’s hits. Help us celebrate ACB’s 60th year as we celebrate the importance of White Cane Day, the ACB way! Listen on ACB Media 4. #ACBGetMoving

History of White Cane Posts

2. World White Cane Day is celebrated every year on October 15. Also known as White Cane Safety Day, the day was first marked in 1964 in the United States by President Lyndon B Johnson.
3. White Cane Day is observed worldwide and recognizes the movement of blind people from dependency to active participation in society. It also celebrates the achievement of blind people.
4. The first special White Cane Ordinance was passed in December 1930 in Peoria, Illinois. It granted blind pedestrians protections and the right-of-way while carrying a white cane. In 1935, Michigan began promoting the white cane as a visible symbol for the blind. Governor Frank Murphy signed the bill into law in March 1937.
5. On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress, HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President of The United States of America to proclaim October 15th of each year as "White Cane Day."
6. In the first White Cane Proclamation President Johnson commended blind people for the growing spirit of independence and the increased determination to be self-reliant and dignified. He said in part: "A white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and opportunity for mobility of the blind on our streets and highways."

HOW WILL YOU OBSERVE #WhiteCaneDay

• The day primarily focuses on the independence and equality of those with visual impairments. Celebrating White Cane Day supports those who are blind or with low vision by raising awareness that this navigation tool is essential for many to help attain their goals and be seen as equal, and that the white cane itself, symbolizes those achievements. Use #WhiteCaneDay to post on social media.

• Join ACB in Celebrating the importance of health and wellness for independence on October 15, White Cane Day, by sharing what you are doing to help raising awareness and celebrate #WhiteCaneDay”

Related links to share:

• Visit the Get Up & Get Moving home page https://www.acb.org/GUGM
• Read ACB’s Clark Rachfal’s Get Up and Get Moving article on Modern Wellness The Role of Health and Wellness in Independence: https://www.modernwellnessguide.com/childhood-wellness/the-role-of-health-and-wellness-in-independence-for-the-blind-community/

Jennifer Flatt

Manager of Communications

American Council of the Blind