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White Cane Safety Day

White Cane Safety Day - Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 4:09PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 @ 04:09pm EST
STROUDSBURG - The Monroe County Council of the Blind celebrated White Cane Safety Day Wednesday. It's a day to recognize how the white cane changed the lives of people who are visually impaired.

Many people the sound of white canes tapping the sidewalk sends a message.

"Blind people are people and can do whatever they want and that's important," said Tony Colello of Swiftwater.

More than a dozen people who are blind or visually impaired walked the streets of Stroudsburg for White Cane Safety Day. With each step they showed off their abilities rather than focus on their disabilities.

Colello remarked, "I'm not stupid, I just can't see."

He noticed as he lost his sight, others lost sight of what he could accomplish.

"They assume you're not only blind but you can't hear. They make lots of assumptions which are not complementary," he explained.

The Monroe County Association for the Blind works to change those perceptions. Members formed the group three years ago. "There was very little understanding of what it was like to be blind or visually impaired and there was very little response to our needs," said President MaryAnn Alexander.

Since then they've made a lot of progress. All over Monroe County officials have been working to help people who are visually impaired. New crosswalks in Stroudsburg are raised so you can feel where the crosswalk is and where the road is. Workers are also putting in new audible traffic signals so people who can't see can hear when the light changes.

The council also convinced the county to make it easier to vote, with better training for poll workers and audible ballots.

"We're leading the state in something different," said Alexander.

They may not all be able to see but the walkers have a bright vision for the future.

Alexander said, "We're on the right track and we have the right people hearing us and responding to us."

 


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