White Cane Awareness Day event held

The seventh annual White Cane Awareness Day event was held at the Huber Building in Springfield to help raise awareness about visual disabilities in Vermont.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/white-cane-awareness-day-event-held-springfield

White Cane Awareness Day Event Held in Springfield Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:44pm By LAUREN DRASLER The Shopper SPRINGFIELD, VT - For many people, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like with a visual impairment. On October 15, however, the seventh annual White Cane Awareness Day event was held at the Huber Building in Springfield to help raise awareness about visual disabilities in Vermont. The event began with a panel session and refreshments and concluded after participants walked up and down Main Street. White Cane Awareness Day was sponsored by the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI), Vermont’s Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) and the Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL). “There are events throughout the state for White Cane Awareness Day,” VABVI Director of Development Ayeshah Raftery said. “The events bring recognition to what a white cane means. There are events being held throughout the week in Montpelier, South Burlington, Saint Johnsbury, Newport, Middlebury and Saint Albans. ” Raftery said that her organization serves around 1,400 clients in Vermont, and that 1,100 of these individuals are adults. According to Raftery, one of the main goals of VABVI is to help individuals with visual impairments achieve and maintain independence. “We go into homes to help make every day things easier, like labeling stoves and microwaves with Braille or providing better lighting,” she said. “We also have support groups and provide training for how to use the white cane.” According to a pamphlet produced by VABVI, White Cane Awareness Day was first recognized in Vermont by Governor Madeleine Kunin in 1990. The pamphlet states that “this day promotes better understanding of the issues faced by blind and visually impaired individuals as they travel Vermont’s streets and sidewalks.” It is Vermont state law that drivers must yield to pedestrians using white canes or guide dogs, and if a motorist fails to obey this law, they may be fined up to $100 and have four points on their driving license, the pamphlet stated. VCIL Peer Advocate Counselor Candace Stouman said that her organization works with people that have disabilities and individuals who are deaf. She said that she is also involved with the Peer Assisted Living Support group (PALS) in Springfield and often does presentations during PALS’ meetings. “VCIL is a co-sponsor of this event,” she said. “I’ve gone to White Cane Awareness Day for the last five years, but the event has always been in Brattleboro.” Michael Goldberg, who works as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Vermont Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Springfield, said that the event was held in Springfield this year because of interest from people in town. “This is the first year the event has been held in Springfield,” he said. “We have a very active support group here, so we decided to try something different and bring the event here. There is one event in each region in Vermont.” Goldberg said that White Cane Awareness Day is a national event and that it always held on October 15. “We can’t educate the public enough,” he said. “People don’t know enough about what blindness and visual impairments mean, so this event is important for that.” Melinda Underwood, who was a co-sponsor of White Cane Awareness Day began the panel session of the event by talking about the history of White Cane Awareness Day, and said the event was a way to make white canes more visible. Two panelists then spoke about their experiences being visually impaired. Both people shared stories of coming to terms with their visual impairments, and spoke highly of the services offered by Vermont for those with visual disabilities. After the panel, about 20 people walked up and down Main Street to raise awareness for the event. - See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/white-cane-awareness-day-event-held-springfield#sthash.0cMqDDuQ.dpuf