White Cane Awareness Day is celebrated each October 15 in order to highlight the achievements of people who are blind and low vision and promote awareness of individuals who use white canes or guide dogs to assist them.
For blind or low vision individuals, the white cane is an essential tool that gives them the ability to achieve a full and independent life. According to the National Federation of the Blind, it allows individuals to move freely and safely from place to place, whether it's at work, at school, or around our neighborhoods.
In 2020, Sacramento County updated its Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (SETP). Every County facility and the public rights of way were surveyed to determine where accessibility improvements were or are needed. Using that data, the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Transportation (SacDOT) engage in ongoing planning, design and construction to make these changes. These include features that assist people who are blind or have low vision, such as stair striping, Braille and tactile signage, and audible pedestrian signals. Requests for access features from members of the public are prioritized.
Some changes that occurred due to the evaluation include:
- Working with the Disability Advisory Commission (DAC) to ensure respectful and sensitive interactions with people who use assistive devices, including white canes as individuals pass the new security screening system at 700 H
- The Department of Airports worked with the DAC and representatives of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the Society for the Blind, and other disability community stakeholders to implement a new wayfinding service called Aira at Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
To learn more about Sacramento County's ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, services and accommodations for individuals using white canes, visit the Sacramento County Disability Compliance Office's (DCO) website.