NWABA & White Cane Day 2023

Established in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, October 15^th is recognized as White Cane Awareness Day. The white cane is recognized around the world as a means for identifying, empowering, and providing independence to people who are blind and visually impaired. This national observance raises awareness and promotes accessibility and inclusion to communities at large.

Each year, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) and other organizations around the world, celebrate with different activities, walks, and awareness. This month, we have a jam-packed schedule to bringing awareness to White Canes through NWABA’s programs and services.

• On October 6, we kicked off our first Paralympic Experience in Richland, Washington with goalball during Cane Quest; a regional event for students in grades 3-12 to challenge their orientation and mobility skills.
• On October 12, we hosted 20 students in Selah, Washington, with fitness, dance aerobics, and beep kickball while also sharing the importance of white canes.
• On October 14, we participated in a White Cane Awareness walk, in Seattle, with our partners at the Department of Services for the Blind.

We also have some fun and exciting special program events happening through the end of October:

• We’re hosting indoor rock-climbing experiences in the Puget Sound area and Idaho.
• Our second spooky “Goulball” clinic, is happening in the Seattle/Tacoma area where local area youth will enhance their skills and play goalball in costume.
• In Billings, Montana, we’re hosting cooperative games at the First Leaf Fall Festival for youth from birth through 12^th
• We’re hosting our first paralympic experience in Bend, Oregon, which starts our expansion into Central Oregon.

In addition to these several in-person events, we also gave more than ten presentations throughout the Pacific Northwest as part of our Increasing Visibility program, where we educated communities on the importance of Adapted Physical Education in schools for youth who are blind and visually impaired.

We have a few more events to round out this amazing month that not only celebrates White Cane Awareness month but also October is Disability Awareness Month. We are grateful to all of our partners who asked us to host and be a part of their White Cane Awareness Month celebrations.

For more information about program events in your areas, visit www.nwaba.org.