White Cane Safety Day, 1995

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Part III

The President

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Proclamation 6840--White Cane Safety Day, 1995

Order of October 13, 1995--National Security Information

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 6840 of October 13, 1995

White Cane Safety Day, 1995

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As Americans, we take pride in the diversity that
allows us to appreciate the world from many
standpoints, and we draw our vitality from the
contributions made by people of all experiences,
talents, and backgrounds. Long dedicated to the goal of
independence, America's blind and visually impaired
citizens have enriched our history, inspiring others to
join their efforts to further integration and
inclusion.

The majority of blind and visually impaired people use
the white cane to facilitate their travel. This
remarkably simple instrument provides tactile,
kinesthetic, and auditory signals to its users,
allowing them to detect obstacles, steps up and down,
and changes in surface texture. Enhancing motivation
and confidence, the white cane has empowered countless
blind and visually impaired individuals to gain freedom
of movement and to flourish in society. For those of us
who are not blind or visually impaired, it signals us
to exercise extra caution and to be courteous drivers
and pedestrians.

As our Nation observes this special day, the white cane
is a symbol of strength and a reminder of the
tremendous potential available within each person. We
must continue to work for full implementation of the
Americans With Disabilities Act, which protects people
with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace,
mandates access to public and private services and
accommodations, and promotes equal opportunity. The
American Dream is an inspiration to us all--let us work
to ensure that every person can realize its promise.

To honor the numerous achievements of blind and
visually impaired citizens and to recognize the
significance of the white cane in advancing
independence, the Congress, by joint resolution
approved October 6, 1964, has designated October 15 of
each year as ``White Cane Safety Day.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim October
15, 1995, as White Cane Safety Day. I call upon
government officials, educators, and all the people of
the United States to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-five, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twentieth.