Event Recap: 2011 White Cane Awareness Day

Saturday October 25, 2011 was mild and breezy. A large group of visually impaired and blind persons, and their friends and family members, gathered in Anderson Snow Park to commemorate National White Cane Safety Day. We were also joined by several of our returning volunteers, plus we were fortunate to have some new ones, including sorority sisters from Theta Phi Alpha at Saint Leo University.

The event, organized by the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind, included a friendly game of goalball, which is a team sport played by persons who are visually impaired and blind, using a rubber ball that contains jingling bells. At Saturday’s event, sighted persons wearing blindfolds played alongside those who are vision impaired. This was a unique experience for many of the sighted players—wearing a blindfold while trying to block the ball was definitely a challenge. However, this “eye opener” proved to be fun for all and educational for those who don’t know or understand vision impairment.

The group also participated in our walk for independence, which was a great opportunity for those in the park to observe persons who are visually impaired using their white canes. Our white cane day was the second event held this October, intended to raise awareness about free vision rehabilitation services for those living with low vision in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Counties. So few people know about our services, therefore our events are critical to getting the word out in different ways. Happily, we were able to attract the attention of Hernando Today. Please read their article about the Lighthouse, called Seeing Clearly by Hayley Mathis.

Thank you to all who attended our White Cane Day, especially our volunteers. Your caring nature and your positive energy goes a long way to making the persons we serve feel as though they are part of your community, and the extra hands made our efforts at raising awareness a real success. Also thank you to Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Publix Super Markets Charities for sponsoring our White Cane Day. Vanda Pharmaceuticals is conducting a sleep study for those who are completely blind and suffer from sleep deprivation. For information on the study, please contact 1-888-389-7033, email info@non24registry.com or visit Vanda’s website.