Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) will be joining the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), and other agencies across the state in celebrating White Cane Day at various events during the month of October.
White Cane Day, officially designated as October 15, recognizes the visually impaired and uses the white cane to symbolize independence. It was first established in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, according to the HHS news release.
Keisha Rowe, the associate commissioner of Health and Independence, told HHS that White Cane Day is important for the visually impaired and blind community.
“The white cane is an essential tool to help people navigate and travel independently and, most importantly, safely,” Rowe said in the news release. “I am proud of the work within our program areas that support people with visual impairments and blindness to maintain their independence and freely navigate our ever-changing environment. We work closely with children, families, adults, and seniors to live independently and provide supports to maintain their independence.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott observes White Cane Day each year in an official proclamation. Texas cities that will be celebrating the event, according to an HHS news release, include Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, El Paso, San Antonio, Mission, Laredo, and Wichita Falls.
The City of Austin has commemorated the day alongside TSBVI for 19 years. For the 20th celebration of the Austin event, there will be virtual and in-person festivities on October 12. The event was only held virtually over the last two years, according to HHS.
“Each year, the Austin community comes together for an event to celebrate this exciting day,” the official Austin White Cane Day website shares. “And now that we will be doing a live and virtual event simultaneously, it promises to be bigger and better than ever, so tell your friends and come have some fun!”
In Houston, the 16th annual White Cane Safety Day will be held at the University of Houston. The website for the event shares that the October 13 celebration will feature a Resource Fair, multiple guest speakers, a Mayoral Proclamation, musical performances, and more.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth region, North Texas White Cane Safety Day will be held for the 13th consecutive year on October 15. It will begin with a walk from Westwood Contractors to the Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial, the event website states.
The El Paso event will be held at the Tomas Rivera Conference Center on the University of Texas at El Paso campus on October 11 and 12, according to HHS.
The City of Mission will host the 5th Annual Resources Fiesta for the Blind and Visually Impaired on October 1, and the Laredo White Cane Day Event can be enjoyed on October 14, HHS shares. In San Antonio, the 2022 White Cane Awareness Day festivities will fall on October 14.
The Wichita Falls Annual White Cane Day Walk and Community Picnic will be held on October 21 at the Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind. The walk is one mile long and begins and ends at the lighthouse.
