Chennai: To create awareness on the usage of white cane, Over 200 visually impaired people from organisations like Karna Vidya Foundation,Vision friends club and National association for the blind, Tamilnadu participated in a walkathon at Elliot’s beach here on Sunday.
The rally was organised from the Elliot’s beach to Olcott memorial school to mark the International white cane’s day, celebrated every year on 15 October. During the rally the sighted persons were blindfolded and were made to walk along with a visually challenged person using white cane.
Speaking about the event, president of the New Vision Friends Club, Anburajan said, “This rally is mainly organised to create an awareness among the public on the usage of the white cane. Also, we wanted to show them how we use the white cane in our day to day life that is helping us move independently.”
About the history of white cane he said “White cane method was invented by 1921 by James Wigg in USA, who lost his eyesight. By 1931, the white cane usage became common there.”
“White cane is not only a mobility aid it is a symbol of our accessibility and confidence. Wherever we go people ask us to seek aid from someone else for mobility but we can go anywhere with the white cane independently and we want people to know that,” he added.
The rally was followed by an event called ‘Vizhimin’ at the Olcott school where performances like dance and skit were performed by students from different organisations.