White Cane Safety Day, 1997

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7037 of October 10, 1997

White Cane Safety Day, 1997

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As we stand at the dawn of the 21st century, new
technologies are rapidly changing and improving the
lives of Americans. For one group of Americans in
particular--those who are blind or visually impaired--
these technologies have opened doors to unparalleled
opportunities. Blind Americans now can more readily
access information of all kinds, and these advances
have brought important improvements to the education,
careers, and daily lives of blind and visually impaired
people.

In this time of extraordinary progress, however, the
simple yet profoundly useful white cane remains an
indispensable tool and symbol of independence that has
afforded countless blind and visually impaired citizens
the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. And so,
as we all share in a new era of expanded technological
innovations that improve the lives of all of our
Nation's citizens, we also celebrate the white cane for
its ability to empower and recognize it as the
embodiment of freedom.

As a Nation, let us also reassert our commitment to
ensuring equal opportunity, equal access, and full
participation of citizens with disabilities in our
community life. This year, we celebrated the
reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, reaffirming our belief that all students
can learn and must have the opportunities and resources
necessary to do so. And we must continue to enforce
vigorously the Americans with Disabilities Act, so that
our blind and visually impaired fellow citizens enjoy
equal opportunity, access to public and private
services and accommodations, and a workplace free of
discrimination.

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, 1997, as White Cane Safety Day. I call upon the
people of the United States, government officials,
educators, and business leaders to observe this day
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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