A long white cane, the symbol of White Cane Safety Day
White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the
United States, celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are
blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the
white cane.
On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the
U.S. Congress, H.R. 753, was signed into law as
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)88–628, and codified at
36 U.S.C.§ 142. This resolution authorized the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day".
President
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first White Cane Safety Day proclamation within hours of the passage of the
joint resolution.
In 2011, White Cane Safety Day was also named Blind Americans Equality Day by President
Barack Obama.[1]
(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific
racial/ethnic group or
sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) =
Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies
