Observed every year between January 7–14, White Cane Week for the Visually Impaired draws attention to the right of blind and visually impaired individuals to live independently and to participate in social life on an equal basis. At the heart of the week lies something far more than a symbol: the white cane is a visible expression of safe mobility and independence.
The story of the white cane: A symbol of independence
According to various sources, the symbolic journey of the white cane is linked to a photographer in London who lost his sight in 1921 and painted his cane white so that others could notice him. It is also noted that this approach gained wider acceptance especially from the 1930s onward. Today, the white cane conveys a rights-based message even before it signals any request for help: “I am here, and I move independently.”
Accessibility: Small adjustments, big safety gains
Not “helping,” but designing accessibly. White Cane Week brings a rights-based perspective to the forefront, beyond the limits of goodwill. For blind and visually impaired individuals, accessibility encompasses many interrelated factors such as the continuity of sidewalks, the safety of pedestrian crossings, tactile guidance surfaces that support orientation, and information systems.
A brief moment: The same campus, a different route
Class time is approaching. You walk through a crowded corridor and head toward a notice board. You glance at the poster and immediately register the date and the room. The person beside you pauses for a few seconds in front of the board, then turns and asks, “What does that poster say?” A little further on, there is a directional sign. You follow the arrows and reach the right door without difficulty. The other person moves more slowly at the same point because the information on the sign is “there,” but it doesn’t reach them. You are in the same place, at the same time. Yet information is not flowing equally to everyone.
A one-minute empathy exercise: Try this today
Take a brief moment during the day and try this small exercise: Think of an announcement or event poster without looking at the visual, as if it were only text: “What does it say, how would it be understood?”If there were no wayfinding signs in a crowded area, how long would it take you to reach your destination using only sound and tactile cues? These small exercises make one thing clearer: accessibility is not only about “physical arrangements”; it is also about equal access to information and independent living.
This week’s suggestion: Watch one story—and shift your perspective
White Cane Week invites us to reconsider things we often, without noticing, accept as “normal”: going somewhere on your own, finding your way, making decisions, sustaining daily life without feeling dependent on others… Ray (2004) fits this week precisely for that reason. Through the life story of musician Ray Charles, the film shows that vision loss does not “detach” a person from life; rather, it requires rebuilding the rhythm of life, relationships, and forms of struggle. Watching the film, one point becomes clearer: the issue is not being “someone who needs help.” The real issue is removing the barriers to independence,an accessible environment, an informed attitude, and an approach free of prejudice. Watching Ray this week can help us see the white cane not merely as a symbol, but as part of the everyday struggle for independence. Note: Some scenes may contain mature themes; viewer discretion is advised.
Good practice examples: When it’s done, it works
Initiatives that support accessibility can quickly translate “theory” into everyday life. For example, in information shared by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Management Center, it is stated that at signalized intersections, an accessible pedestrian button/disabled pedestrian system is used to help pedestrians receive audible and visual information about pedestrian signal phases. On campuses, measures that strengthen accessibility also stand out. On the Koç University Disabled Student Unitwebpage, it is noted that guidance lines have been created to facilitate mobility on campus, and that building elevators are within the scope of an audio guidance system. As an international example, the City of Toronto states on its page regarding Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) that, as of May 26, 2023, 1,219 signalized intersections are equipped with APS and that a certain number of intersections are updated with APS each year. Such data show that accessibility is not a one-off initiative, but a planned and sustainableapproach to urban design.
Reminder: Accessibility begins in the digital world, too
Although accessibility is often associated with physical arrangements, today a significant portion of access to information happens through websites, announcements, PDFs, and social media. When such content is not prepared in a way that blind and visually impaired users can follow via screen readers, information may be “there” yet still effectively inaccessible. Strengthening digital accessibility includes steps such as adding short but descriptive alt text to visuals, using text-selectable documents with defined headings instead of scanned image PDFs, presenting content with a clear heading–subheading structure and readable paragraphs, writing links in a descriptive way rather than “click here,” and considering contrast and readability in designs. These small adjustments can make it easier for blind and visually impaired individuals to access information without needing anyone else’s help, supporting independence in the digital world as well. White Cane Week is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a reminder that invites us to rethink accessibility in every area of daily life. Being able to move safely, access information independently, and participate in social life on equal terms is everyone’s right. Turning awareness into habits that last throughout the year is a shared responsibility for us all…
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