The international community has marked on the calendar numerous well-known and memorable dates. One of them is White Cane Day on October 15, Blind People’s Day on November 11, and Disabled People’s Day on December 3. These dates are not actual holidays but a kind of sad marks that remind the disabled people about solidarity. At the same time, they should remind the healthy that one day, all of a sudden, they may become disabled, too.
The history of the white cane as a symbol of blindness began in 1921. A young photographer James Biggs from Bristol, Great Britain, lost his eyesight as a result of an accident. In his condition he had to start a new life. Following the advice of a blind soldier, he wanted to be out with people more and started to learn how to go around the city on his own with the help of a cane. But soon he realized that neither people on the street, nor the drivers noticed his black cane. Then Biggs painted the cane white so that people would notice it. And it worked! The know-how of the blind photographer was soon used by the blind in England, entire Europe, and later in America.
Since then October 15 is considered to be International White Cane Day. It has become a tradition that communities of blind people, preferably with the participation of people who have good vision, organize various events. The most common slogans of this day are tolerance, equal rights, and integration.
