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Press Releases
White Cane Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maryalicia Johnson
For more information please contact:
Dwight D. Sayer, President
National Federation of the Blind of Florida Greater Orlando Chapter (321) 948-1466
Rachel Bader, President
Mid-Florida Council of the Blind (407) 924-7264 mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net
Maryalicia Johnson,
Lighthouse Central Florida (407) 448-2484 mjohnson@lcf-fl.org
Sheryl Bradley, Chair
Orange County Community Traffic Safety Team
407-246-2100
White Cane Day Demonstrations to Stop Traffic
Agencies Join Together to Encourage Safe Crossing for Blind and Low Vision Citizens
Orlando, Florida – (September 4, 2006) – On Monday, October 16th, 2006, local vision rehabilitation agencies will join together to encourage safe street crossing with the use of white canes for blind and low vision citizens. White Cane Day is a day set aside each year to make the public aware of the laws regulating special accommodations and traffic laws for blind and visually-impaired pedestrians and sighted drivers.
The demonstration will start with White Cane Day Proclamations and the history of the event at the corner of Chickasaw and Valencia College Way in Orlando from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Enforcement help from the Community Traffic Safety Team will be on site to give tickets and assist in navigating the street crossings. Blind and visually impaired people will demonstrate to the public how they can effectively and competently cross a busy intersection with the use of independent living skills, guide dogs and/or white canes. The second location will start at 11:00 AM in front of the Orange County Commission Building, where passersby can get candy canes with Florida's white cane law, 316.104 attached in English and Spanish.
According to Florida Traffic Code (F.S. 316.104), whenever a blind person, carrying a white cane, or led by a guide dog, is crossing a street, driveway, or any other place all traffic must come to a complete stop until the person has safely crossed. Failure to yield the right of way to a blind person is a moving violation, which may result in a fine of $90 and three points on your driver’s license
Lighthouse Central Florida, The Orange County Community Traffic Safety Team, The National Federation of the Blind-Greater Orlando Chapter, The Mid-Florida Council of the Blind, The Blinded Veterans Association and the Florida Division of Blind Services, are partnering to raise awareness of White Cane Safety Day and Guide Dog Safety Day in Central Florida. For more information call Lighthouse Central Florida at 407-898-2483. 2483.