WHITE CANE DAY EVENT AT MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE ON OCTOBER 15 TO HOMEN THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE BLIND AND THE MALICIOUS

WHAT: White Cane Day Walk and Ceremony in Miami 2021

WHEN: Friday, October 15, 2021, from 8:30 a.m.

OR:
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired 601 Southwest 8th Avenue Miami, Florida 33130

DETAILS: Elected officials and other community leaders will join more than 100 blind and visually impaired Miami residents for a walk through the streets of Miami and a celebration in commemoration of White Cane Day.

White Cane Day is a national celebration, established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The day is set aside for the celebration of the many accomplishments of the blind and visually impaired, and their important symbol of independence, the white cane.

The program will begin with participants, escorted by Miami City Police and Fire Department, walking together from the Miami Lighthouse Campus in Southwest 8^e Street and back. The celebration will continue at the Miami Lighthouse with food and music, featuring artists from the Miami Lighthouse Music Program. The Grand Marshalls include Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo, and Lucia Baez, a member of the Miami-Dade County Public School Board.Geller, representatives from the Florida Division of Blind Services, Miami District Office, Lions for the Blind and Billy the Marlin.

“The City of Miami’s investment in the White Cane Day mission, to raise awareness of white cane safety laws, speaks volumes about the importance the city places on diversity and culture. inclusion, ”said Virginia Jacko, President and CEO of Miami Lighthouse. “Special thanks to Miami City Deputy Fire Chief Adrian Plasencia for providing a fire truck and Sergeant Eric Marti from the Miami City Police Department for providing mounted units so that our blind participants in the program can walk safely 8^e Street.”

Sponsors for the event include major sponsors Florida Blue, High Standard Home Care, and Uber, as well as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Tracfone, OrCam, Vispero, Ambutech and others.

Along with Uber’s sponsorship comes a commitment to train its drivers to welcome the blind and visually impaired as pedestrians and passengers in an environment in which visually impaired people increasingly depend on transportation services to improve their mobility.