Blind SA commemorated the International White Cane Day from 11 until 25 October 2018. White Cane Day events were held in conjunction with City of Johannesburg on 11 October 2018 at the Johannesburg Theatre; 12 October 2018 in Roodepoort; 18 October 2018 in Orange Farm; and on 25 October 2018 at Blind SA in Mayfair, as part of the Blind SA 72nd Anniversary Founder’s Day commemoration.
Blind SA has also initiated orientation and mobility training funded by the National Skills Fund in Bloemfontein (Free State) and at Fetakgomo Municipality in Mohlaletsi village (Limpopo).
The objective of the events was to create awareness on the use of the white cane by blind and partially sighted people as an orientation and mobility aid to walk independently and to advocate for blind and partially sighted people to be trained in orientation and mobility techniques as well as skills in daily living.
These services are currently provided by Blind SA and other NGO’s. Negotiations with the Department of Health, Department of Social Development and Department of Education over decades have not yielded much success.
What is orientation?
Orientation is knowing a person’s position in relationship to other objects or environment.
What is mobility?
Mobility is the ability for blind individuals to move with ease, speed, and safety through the known and unknown environments.
More information
Johnson Mdluli O&M Practitioner
mobile 0810170896
email johnson@blindsa.org.za
Blind SA
www.blindsa.org.za
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