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White Cane Day – Seven ways you can help

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Imagine undertaking your daily activities while being forced to navigate additional obstacles. 

Common objects like cars parked across driveways, bins left out on footpaths, dumped bikes or scooters, and even people distracted by their mobile devices. 

These are the everyday objects that can impact the freedom and independence of people with low vision or blindness, leaving more than 70% of Australian white cane users at risk.

On International White Cane Day, Friday 15 October, Guide Dogs Australia is asking the Hunter community to take some simple steps to creating a safer and more accessible environment for all, especially as we re-open after extended periods of COVID-19 lockdowns.

The group’s ‘Keep Clear and Carry On’ campaign is designed to highlight the very real impact ‘everyday’ objects can have on people living with low vision and blindness – causing them to feel anxious, unsafe and in danger when travelling. 

The clutter we contribute to, can not only add to someone’s travel time and change their daily routines, but it can also cause some people to withdraw from going about day-to-day life.

Guide Dogs NSW CEO Dale Cleaver says we all have a part to play in keeping one another safe.

“Everyone has been doing a fantastic job to support one another during the pandemic, including our more vulnerable communities,” he said.

“However, our clients tell us there are still some simple ways we can make our streets more accessible for people with low vision or blindness.

“Move your bin off the footpath, don’t dump bikes and scooters in public spaces, pop your café chair back under the table before you move off, look up from your mobile phone while you’re out and about or call your local council to report issues such as unsafe footpaths or fallen or overgrown branches.

“White canes are designed to maximise independence and mobility, so this year we want to bring to light the barriers preventing this and raise awareness, so white cane users can carry on with reaching their independent goals.”

Mr Cleaver has offered a list of top tips to help keep white cane users independently mobile:

  1. Ensure your car is not parked over the footpath.
  2. Move objects like bins off footpaths.
  3. Keep footpaths near cafes and businesses clear of stray chairs or other objects.
  4. Keep footpaths clear by cutting back overhanging plants from your property.
  5. Avoid using your mobile device while walking in public – for your safety too!
  6. Don’t leave things like rentable bikes or scooters in public spaces.
  7. Report issues like fallen tree branches and unsafe footpaths to your local council.

For more Guide Dogs Australia stories:

Fifi’s pawsome future thanks to Guide Dogs NSW

More Stories

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