WHAT: 2021 Miami White Cane Day Walk and Ceremony
WHEN: Friday, October 15, 2021, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE:
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 on the streets of Miami and a celebration in commemoration of White Cane Day.
White Cane Day is a national observance, established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The day is set aside to celebrate the many achievements of the blind and visually impaired, and their important symbol of independence, the white cane.
The program will begin with participants, escorted by City of Miami Police and Fire Departments, walking together from the Miami Lighthouse campus, down Southwest 8th Street and back. The celebration will continue at Miami Lighthouse with food and music, featuring performers from the Miami Lighthouse Music Program. Grand Marshalls include Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, Miami-Dade County Public School Board Member Lucia Baez-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 mission of White Cane Day, to raise awareness for white cane safety laws, speaks volumes to the importance the City places on diversity and inclusion,” said Virginia Jacko, president and CEO of Miami Lighthouse. “We would like to specially thank City of Miami Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Adrian Plasencia for providing a fire engine and Sergeant Eric Marti of the City of Miami Police Department for providing mounted units so our blind program participants are able to safely walk down 8th Street.”
Event sponsors include presenting sponsors Florida Blue, High Standard Home Care and Uber, along with McDonald’s, Starbucks, Tracfone, OrCam, Vispero, Ambutech and others.
Uber’s sponsorship is coupled with a commitment to train its drivers about accommodating the blind and visually impaired as pedestrians and passengers in an environment in which persons with visual impairments are increasingly reliant on ride services to enhance their mobility.
