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School for the Blind students to celebrate White Cane Safety Awareness Day

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Muskogee, Okla. - Oklahoma School for the Blind will celebrate White Cane Safety Awareness Day starting at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12 in Muskogee.

The school’s event will be held before national White Cane Safety Awareness Day, which is typically observed every year on October 15.

OSB students and staff will meet in Mural Park-230 W. Broadway Street and walk a 15-minute route in the downtown area while demonstrating proper cane technique, safe street crossings and travel awareness. 

Members of the public are encouraged to participate or ask questions.

“Our goal is to create awareness about the white cane’s connection to independence, mobility and travel safety for people who are blind and visually impaired,” OSB Superintendent Rita Echelle said.

White Cane Safety Awareness Day was first established by presidential proclamation in 1964 to increase public awareness about the meaning of white cane with red tips and travel safety needs of citizens who use them.

Oklahoma law requires drivers to completely stop their vehicles 15 feet away from pedestrians who are visually impaired and identified by their use of white canes with red tips or dog guides. People who violate this law are guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to three months or $100 fine or both.

For more information about OSB’s White Cane Safety Awareness Day contact White Cane Safety Awareness Day Coordinator Sherry Holder at (918) 781-8200 or sholder@osb.k12.ok.us

OSB is a division of Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

The Oklahoma School for the Blind is the statewide resource for the education of blind and visually impaired students. Residential and commuter students meet all state-mandated education requirements and receive specialized instruction in Braille, orientation and mobility, optimum use of low vision, adaptive equipment technology and tactile graphic skills not readily available at other public schools in the state. OSB also provides thousands of hours of free services each year for students attending local public schools, their families and local school staff.

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Oklahoma School for the Blind students (from left) Kentrell Wallace, Ben Middleton, Julio Valdez and Elbin Carrillo pose with their white canes at an award ceremony.

For more information

Jody Harlan, DRS Communications Director

Cell: 405-203-1318 

Last Modified on Oct 13, 2022