DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This Getting Results Award segment checks in with a past winner.
The Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired has been a part of Daytona Beach for more than 40 years.
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This week, they celebrated International White Cane Day at their 42-acre campus on White Street.
Ronee David, president and CEO, spoke to students and visitors in the multi-purpose room.
“This is an amazing day,” David said. “The white cane has become a symbol of empowerment and independence for blind people.”
Groups who advocate on behalf of blind people were also in attendance.
The Lions Club, Florida Department of Transportation, the National Federation of the Blind, Halifax Council of the Blind, and Friends of Library Access, among others.
“I think it’s really important for the community to recognize that blind and visually impaired people are active members of the community, just like everyone else,” David said.
White Cane Safety Day has been 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.
The white cane allows them to navigate their surroundings safely and independently.
In 1930, a Lion’s Club member watched as a blind man attempted to make his way across a busy street using a black cane. With the realization that the black cane was barely visible to motorists, the Lion’s Club decided to paint canes white to increase their visibility to oncoming motorists.
David said Daytona Beach is a unique area in the U.S. because there are more services concentrated there than anywhere else. The Division of Blind Services, Conklin Davis Center and The Braille and Talking Book Library are all within a few blocks of each other.
But the highlight of the day was to get out of the building and onto the street with a blindfold walk.
Guests were blindfolded and, with assistance, crossed the intersection of Dunn Avenue nearby.
“There have been a lot of problems with blind people crossing streets,” David said. “Cars just go by, people have been hit. So it’s really important for the public to recognize the white cane that the white cane is a symbol of visual impairment and when you see a person standing on the side of the street getting ready to cross and they have a white cane they have the right of way. You must stop.”
About a dozen people participated in the exercise, including Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
“It was challenging and scary,” Chitwood said. “You really depend on your hearing and you depend on the person who is training you. It’s a whole different experience.”
Edie Biro also made her way, cautiously, though the intersection.
“I have a lot of respect for people who are visually impaired. You have to have a lot of trust in the drivers of the cars and the people who are leading you,” Biro said. “It’s a very humbling experience to try to navigate the world not being able to see.”