ASB Honors National White Cane Safety Day

Thursday, October 15, 2009 ----- Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB) is proud to honor and celebrate White Cane Safety Day throughout the Delaware Valley on October 15th. To those with sight, the White Cane’s only significance may be to identify a person who’s blind. But for anyone who’s blind or visually impaired, it’s an essential tool for independence, mobility and freedom. The cane is also used as a tool to alert individuals who are blind to obstacles in their path.

Today, in the Delaware Valley, an estimated 130,000 residents are blind or visually impaired, and over ten million people are identified as blind or visually impaired in the United States. Many of these individuals rely on a cane for travel and identification purposes.

“The white cane, in the hands of a properly trained person, is the key to independence and freedom,” said Patricia C. Johnson, ASB President and CEO. “The cane helps the individuals who are blind enjoy greater mobility and safety by creating a picture of their surroundings in determining the location of curbs, steps, uneven pavement, and other physical obstacles in their path.”

ASB is dedicated to helping people who are blind or visually impaired live full, productive lives. In the Rehabilitation Department, specially trained Mobility Instructors help our

clients regain their self-confidence by giving them comprehensive training in how to safely and effectively use the White Cane for optimal mobility.

ASB client, Leon Conaway, learned White Cane mobility when he came to ASB. Now, he cannot imagine his life without it. “My cane provides me the freedom to go where I want including all the places I used to go before I lost my sight,” said Conaway. “I enjoy taking trips and being independent again.”

“Losing your sight to some is the same as losing your independence,” said Johnson. “The white cane opens up their world by giving people who are blind the ability to travel wherever they choose. It is a symbol of not only independence but also a symbol to overcome adversity.”

ASB is the largest non-profit organization located in southeastern Pennsylvania serving people who are blind and visually impaired. We have grown but our mission remains the same: To help individuals who are blind and visually impaired achieve personal independence by providing specialized training, information and support at every turn. One phone call to Associated Services for the Blind opens the door to greater independence and a world of opportunities.

For more information on National White Cane Safety Day, please contact Lauren Scarpa at 215.627.0600, x3242 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

With roots dating back to 1874, ASB has as its mission to promote self-esteem, independence, and self-determination in people who are blind or visually impaired. ASB provides a full spectrum of rehabilitation and life skills education from computer training to hands-on gardening, Latino outreach, and support groups. ASB also operates a 24 hour a day/7 day a week radio reading service, provides monthly recordings of over two dozen popular magazines, and produces approximately nine million pages of Braille per year. Visit us online at www.asb.org.