Bbspecialcane 062013 1

beach BOOSTER We’re Local..We’re Wasaga Beach..Special

June 20, 2013

Wasaga Beach Lions Club 1st Annual White Cane Fundraiser at Walmart June 29th History In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from Bristol, England, became blind following an accident. Because he was feeling uncomfortable with the amount of traffic around his home, he painted his walking stick white to be more easily visible. In 1930, the late George A. Bonham, President of the Peoria Lions Club (Illinois) introduced the idea of using the white cane with a red band as a means of assisting the blind in independent mobility. The Peoria Lions approved the idea, white canes were made and distributed, and the Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance giving the bearers the right-of way to cross the street. News of the club's activity spread quickly to other Lions clubs throughout the United States, and their visually handicapped friends experimented with the white canes. Overwhelming acceptance of the white cane idea by the blind and sighted alike quickly gave cane users a unique method of identifying their special need for travel consideration among their sighted counterparts Since 1946, the first week of February has traditionally been "White Cane Week" in Canada, due to the Canadian Council for the Blind initiative. A white cane has several uses. An elderly woman uses her white support cane for balance as she steps onto a bus. A young man places his ID cane on the counter at the bank as he cashes a cheque. A student moves her long white cane back and forth along the sidewalk as she makes her way across campus. Club President Martin Campbell and White Cane Chairman Alan Ritchie What do these three scenarios have in common? Each of these individuals is telling the bus driver, bank teller and other students that he or she is blind or partially sighted. “Everyone involved in these situations should be aware of what the white cane means, so they can better assist Wasaga Beach Lions Club is holding its 1st the person with vision loss,” says Louise Gillis, president of the Canadian Council of the Blind, (CCB). “Upon Annual White Cane fundraiser at Walmart in Wasaga Beach on June 29th from 9-5. 100% of seeing the white cane, the driver should announce the bus number or destination so the elderly woman knows she is on the right bus. The bank teller should know the man can't see her holding the money out for him to take the money will be donated to the CNIB of Simcoe for their white cane program and moblity from her; she should place it in his hand. And people sharing the sidewalk should let the student know they are there, or move out of the way.” program. Three types of white canes identify a person as having vision loss in addition to meeting other mobility and travel The CNIB provides vision rehabilitation needs: programs and services at no cost to individuals 1· the long cane is most often used for mobility and assists with object detection and depth perception, alerting who are blind or partially sighted, including the individual to gradient changes and upcoming barriers or dangers in the path of travel. training on how to travel safely and 2· a support cane is the least recognized of the white canes and is used to assist with balance; mostly used by independently in their home and community.. CNIB's orientation and mobility program teaches seniors who need extra support and stability. 3· an ID cane is used for identifying oneself as a person with vision loss so that others will respond appropriately individuals way-finding and cane skills, street by not impeding the path of travel or by offering assistance. crossing techniques and how to use public Please drop by on Saturday 29th of June at Walmart in Wasaga Beach and help the local CNIB so they transit as well as the sighted-guide technique, can help those within our community and surrounding area. which is a safe way to walk with a sighted person,” says Alice Arns, CNIB's orientation and mobility specialist. “CNIB also works with community organizations on how to identify and better accommodate people who are blind or partially sighted, such as police officers, flight attendants, bus drivers, city engineers and shopping centre staff.”

Exhibitor Space

Presented by Beach BOOSTER Group

ROCKIN’ EACH B E H T Canada Day Weekend! Saturday, June 29, 2013 @ Noon Main Street at Main Beach Wasaga Beach, Ontario

5 LIVE BANDS & n

introducing DJ B-Brow

Featuring and Special Guests