By Admin 
World White Cane Safety Day is celebrated every year on 15 October. This day is especially for those who are blind or visually impaired. The purpose of this day is to spread awareness in the society so that blind people can get equal rights, they can be given the opportunity to live an independent life and their confidence can be increased. The most prominent symbol of this day is the white stick, which has become the symbol of blindness throughout the world.
But have you ever wondered why the stick used by blind people is always white in color, what is special about white color, can it not have any other color, then let us know why the stick of blind people is always white in color and what is the reason behind it.
What is the real purpose of the white stick?
For blind or low vision people, the white stick is not just a walking aid, but it is also a means of identification and safety. When a person walks on the street with a white stick in his hand, others immediately understand that the person is visually impaired. Due to this, the driver, pedestrians and people nearby become more alert and help him give way.
Why is this stick only white?
White color is the most visible color, not only in daylight, but even at night when street light or car headlight falls, the white stick is easily visible. This is especially important for their safety. In the year 1930, an incident happened in Peoria city of America, which changed the color of the white stick. A blind man was seen with a black stick while crossing the road, but his stick was not visible to the drivers and he came in danger.
On this, the President of the Lions Club there, George A. Bonham suggested that the stick be painted white with red stripes so that it would be visible from a distance and people would be alert. This experiment was so successful that gradually it spread throughout America and then throughout the world. Now it has become an international belief that a blind person’s stick is white. It is not only a symbol of security for them, but is also a part of their identity.
How did the white stick become a symbol?
The white stick not only provides direction to the blind person but also makes him feel independent. With the help of a stick, they detect the obstacles, ditch, wall, or any other obstacle in front and decide their direction. This is called the Hoover technique, which was started in 1944 by American war expert Richard E. Hoover. Moving the stick on the ground, getting information about the path by touch, and walking without anyone’s help, all this is possible only with the help of the white stick.
Many people think that white stick is of only one type, but it comes in three main types. In which there is Mobility Cane, it is long and light, through which the path can be seen. On the other hand, there is Support Cane, it is for people facing difficulty in walking. Apart from this, the third identification stick i.e. ID Cane is for those people who have partial vision, so that people can know that the person is not completely blind but is unable to see anything.
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