White Cane Safety Day

White Cane Safety Day is observed every year on October 15 in the United States. It is a day to honor and raise awareness about the importance of the white cane—as both a tool and symbol—for people who are blind or visually impaired.

History of White Cane Safety Day

The observance began in 1964, when the United States Congress passed a joint resolution (HR 753) on October 6 authorizing the President to proclaim October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation just hours later. The proclamation highlighted the symbolic and practical significance of the white cane—its role in promoting independence, awareness, and the protection of blind and visually impaired persons in public life. ¹

The white cane itself has a longer history. The idea of painting a walking stick white to increase its visibility is attributed to James Biggs (Bristol, 1921) and to advocacy in Europe during the 1930s. In France, Guilly d’Herbemont is credited with promoting the white cane as a national “white‑stick movement” around 1931, distributing white canes to veterans and civilians to increase safety in motorized traffic. In the U.S., early “white cane laws” granting special pedestrian rights in traffic began in municipalities (e.g. Peoria, Illinois, in 1930) and later evolved into state and federal recognition.

Over the years, White Cane Safety Day has expanded beyond mere “safety awareness” to broader themes of independence, equality, accessibility, and dignity for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Why is White Cane Safety Day important?

The white cane is more than just a physical aid—it is an extension of one’s senses, enabling mobility, orientation, and confidence in daily life. It helps users detect obstacles, changes in terrain, curbs, steps, and navigational cues, thereby facilitating safer independent travel. At the same time, the cane is a visible symbol that alerts others—drivers, pedestrians, public services—that its user has a visual impairment and may need consideration, such as yielding the right-of-way or ensuring clear pathways.

By dedicating a day to the white cane, society is reminded of both the capabilities and challenges of the blind or visually impaired community. It prompts public education, policy reinforcement (e.g. traffic laws), infrastructure improvements (sidewalks, crossings, tactile paving), and respect for autonomy and accessibility. It also provides an opportunity to honor the achievements of individuals who use the white cane as they navigate education, employment, social life, and public spaces.

• It emphasizes the importance of safe, independent mobility
• It fosters public awareness about visual impairment and disability rights
• It promotes respect, visibility, and dignity for cane users
• It encourages improvements in infrastructure and accessibility
• It strengthens community and advocacy efforts for inclusion

How to Observe White Cane Safety Day

One way to observe this day is by organizing or participating in awareness events—walks, demonstrations, talks, or exhibitions showing what it’s like to navigate with a cane. Invite someone who uses a white cane to share their experience, or arrange demonstrations of cane techniques. Use local media or social platforms to raise awareness about right-of-way rules, accessibility challenges, and policy needs.

You can also engage in small but meaningful acts: check sidewalks or public spaces in your city and advocate removing obstacles that impede cane users (e.g. overhanging branches, unattended barriers, clutter). Reach out to schools, transit systems, and city planners to highlight how blind pedestrians benefit from accessible design (tactile paving, audible signals, and curb ramps). Encourage local signage or proclamations recognizing the day and the rights of visually impaired pedestrians. And in your own interactions, be more attentive: yield to cane users, avoid startling them, and offer assistance only if asked.

• Host or join a public walk or cane demonstration
• Share stories, facts, or resources about the white cane
• Inspect and report accessibility issues in your community
• Be courteous and informed when encountering someone with a white cane
• Advocate for local policies and infrastructure for cane users

White Cane Safety Day Dates Table

1. https://www.brailleinstitute.org/white-cane-day/[↩]