13 January 2023

White Cane Week for the Visually Impaired and Unknowns

In order to raise awareness in the society, every year between January 7-14 is commemorated as the White Cane Week for the Visually Impaired.

What is a White Cane? Why is the Week for the Visually Impaired called White Cane Week? When was the White Cane First Used? The answer is in the continuation of our article...

What is Visual Impairment?

Visual disability is a mental and physical disorder in which the individual loses his/her sight as a result of any inherited or acquired defect and his/her vital activities are restricted. Visually impaired individuals are divided into two as low vision and no vision (blind). Blind people are defined as individuals whose vision with both eyes is less than 1/10 and whose angle of vision does not exceed 20 degrees despite the necessary medical and surgical corrections, while low vision is defined as individuals with 20/70 vision. The limits of the visually impaired in the legal definitions are precise and clearly stated.

What are the Causes of Visual Impairment?

Visual impairment can be caused by various environmental factors and rarely by genetic inheritance. Exposure of the mother to X-rays during pregnancy, febrile illness or unconscious drug use can cause visual defects in the child, and permanent visual defects can occur if the nervous system of the individual is damaged as a result of accidents and traumas. Eye health also depends on nutrition. In case of insufficient intake of vitamins A, C, E, eye diseases are also encountered.

What are the Tools Used by the Visually Impaired?

In order to carry out their vital activities, visually impaired individuals make use of many tools and equipment during the day. White cane, talking and vibrating watches, obstacle recognition devices, talking computers are some of them. White cane reduces the risk of any impact, fall or injury of visually impaired individuals and increases their sense of self-confidence.

Disability recognition devices give a signal if there is any danger within a distance of about one and a half meters. There are embossed clocks specially designed for visually impaired individuals. They understand what time it is by counting with their fingers. They can also use computers thanks to screen saver software programs. With the use of these tools specially designed for visually impaired individuals, they can maintain their lives on their own without the need for others.

What is a White Cane?

The white cane is the most important tool that enables visually impaired individuals to live their lives independently. There have been various tools of independence and security throughout the ages. For visually impaired individuals, the white cane has become a symbol of independence and liberation. With the evolution of a simple cane in the evolutionary process, canes with many different features have been produced.

White cane protects visually impaired individuals against obstacles while at the same time increasing their harmony with the social environment. The white cane, which allows the person to move safely indoors and outdoors, creates awareness against other individuals and ensures that they are not isolated from society. Moving without a cane causes dangers for visually impaired individuals. For this reason, the white cane is an indispensable medical device for visually impaired individuals.

When was the White Cane First Used?

British photographer James Biggs, who lost his sight in a car accident in London in 1921, painted his cane white so that people around him could recognize that he was blind, and white canes were used for the first time. Biggs' action attracted a lot of attention and in February 1931, the French Organization of the Blind decided that the canes used by visually impaired individuals should be painted white. Thus, the white cane became a worldwide symbol.

In conclusion;

The importance of eye health is emphasized and various solutions are sought for the problems faced by visually impaired individuals through awareness activities organized by official and non-governmental organizations every year.


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