East DFW News

HHS is joining the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and others Oct. 12 to celebrate White Cane Day.

Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, White Cane Day highlights the white cane on Oct. 15 as a symbol of independence and empowerment because it assists visually impaired people with traveling on their own.

For the past 19 years, the Austin community has joined TSBVI in a celebratory White Cane Day event to acknowledge the abilities of people who are blind and visually impaired and to promote equal opportunities.

After celebrating the event virtually for the past two years, this year’s 20th anniversary celebration will be held in person.

Activities include two marches, led by the Travis Association for the Blind, TWC and TSBVI. The Travis Association for the Blind march begins Oct. 12 at 8 a.m. at City Hall, and participants will march to the Texas Capital.

Participants of the TWC and TSBVI march will meet at 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 12 at any of these locations:

• Walgreens, 4501 Guadalupe St.
• Central Market, 4001 N. Lamar Blvd.
• The Pit Barbecue, 4707 Burnet Road
• Triangle Station, 47th Street at Guadalupe Street

The march to TSBVI begins at 9 a.m., 1100 W. 45th St., followed by a ceremony and celebration at the school that lasts until noon.

Gov. Greg Abbott issues a proclamation each year to commemorate the observance of White Cane Day in Texas. Celebration of White Cane Day is vital to recognizing the achievements of people who are blind and visually impaired.

“The white cane is an essential tool to help people navigate and travel independently and most importantly, safely,” said Keisha Rowe, associate commissioner of Health and Independence. “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.”

For more information about attending the Austin celebration, visit the White Cane Day webpage.

White Cane Day events in Texas:

• Dallas–Fort Worth

  Saturday, Oct. 15

  1–3 p.m.

  North Texas White Cane Safety Day

  2201 West 7th St.

  Fort Worth, TX 76107

• El Paso

  Tuesday, Oct. 11 and Wednesday, Oct. 12

  10 a.m.–noon

  UTEP, Tomas Rivera Conference Center

  2401 N. Oregon St.

  El Paso, TX 79902

• Houston

  Thursday, Oct. 13

  Houston White Can Safety Day

  9:30 a.m. Awareness March

  10 a.m.–noon Program and Resource Fair

  University of Houston Student Services Center South

  4455 University Drive

  Houston, TX 77204

• Laredo

  Friday, Oct. 14

  8 a.m.–noon

  Laredo White Cane Day Event

  Texas Workforce Solutions

  1406 Jacaman Road

  Suite A

  Laredo, TX 78041

• Mission

  Saturday, Oct. 1

  noon–3 p.m.

  5th Annual Resources Fiesta for the Blind and Visually Impaired

  City of Mission Parks and Recreation

  721 Bryan Road

  Mission, TX 78572

• San Antonio

  Friday, Oct. 14

  11 a.m.–noon

  2022 White Cane Awareness Day

  Beautify San Antonio Park

  801–899 S. Main Ave.

  San Antonio, TX 78204

• Wichita Falls

  Friday, Oct. 21

  9:45 a.m.

  Annual White Cane Day walk and community picnic

  Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind

  300 7th St.

  Wichita Falls, TX 76301

Original source can be found here.