You’re Invited! 11th Annual White Cane Day Awareness Walk

Photo: WBRC O&M Department staff & interns pose with white canes

Join us for the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center’s 11th Annual White Cane Day Awareness Walk:

Thursday, October 15th, 2015 at 10:30 am

White Cane Safety Day is a national observance, celebrated on October 15th since 1964. 

The WBRC will host its annual White Cane Awareness Walk on White Cane Safety Day, Thursday October 15th. Please join us in our effort to increase awareness in surrounding communities and promote safety and independence for persons with Visual Impairment by participating in a walk around the downtown Palo Alto area. Please note the attached walking route for your reference.

We will meet in front of Palo Alto City Hall and begin the walk at 10:30am.

Palo Alto City Hall:
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Walking Route:
1) Start at Palo Alto City Hall
2) Travel ‘NE’ on Hamilton towards Waverly Street
3) Turn Left on Waverly Street
4) Travel ‘NW’ on Waverly towards University Ave
5) Turn Left on University Ave
6) Travel ‘SW’ on University Ave to Emerson Street
(Participants who need a shorter route can turn left on Bryant Street to return to City Hall)
7) Turn Left on Emerson Street
8) Travel to Hamilton Ave
9) Turn Left on Hamilton Ave and return to City Hall

This year, in order for the City of Palo Alto to accommodate our group, we ask that each individual fill out a waiver in order to participate. Please RSVP for yourself and the number of people in your group by emailing elizabeth.alcorn@va.gov by Tuesday, October 13th if you plan to attend and a waiver will be e-mailed to you or provided in print at the event.

For questions, please contact Summer Beasley-Hoffman:
(650)493-5000, 1, 2, 24611
summer.beasley@va.gov

2012 White Cane Walk a Success

All Photos courtesy of Dan Nakamura, WBRC CNVR Therapist

Photo: Participants cross an intersection along the Downtown Palo Alto route.

WBRC celebrated White Cane Awareness Month by hosting a walk in Palo Alto, CA this morning.  Walkers included Veterans, WBRC Staff, BVA representatives, Lions Club Volunteers, VISTA Center Staff, and Bookshare Staff.  The walkers were lead by Grand Marshal Felipe Flores, an important leader of the BVA Northern California Chapter. 
  

Photo: WBRC's Brian Higgins addresses the crowd in front of City Hall.

The walk started and ended in front of Palo Alto City Hall and encompassed several streets in downtown Palo Alto including sections of Hamilton Ave, Ramona, Emerson, University, and Bryant Street.  The walkers all wore specially printed T-Shirts and used their long canes, guide dogs, wheelchairs, walkers, and human guides to complete the route chanting and spreading awareness of the White Cane Law.   

Photo: Grand Marshal, Felipe Flores, Addresses the crowd.

The California White Cane Law requires every driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk to Yield the Right of Way to a pedestrian crossing in the roadway when they are accompanied by a Dog Guide or using a long cane which is white, or white with a red tip.

Photo: Palo Alto Mayor, Mr. Yiaway Yeh, addresses the crowd.

Upon returning to Palo Alto City Hall participants assembled for a closing ceremony which included a reading of the White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation from the Palo Alto Mayor's Office; speeches from the Palo Alto Mayor, Mr. Yaiway Yeh, and the Grand Marshal, Mr. Felipe Flores; presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to the Palo Alto Host Lions Club, Bookshare, the VISTA Center, the BVA, and to the Palo Alto Mayor; as well as a group picture with all of the participants.

Photo: Participants assembled for the closing ceremony.

This is the 6th year that WBRC has organized the White Cane Awareness Walk.  Thank you to everyone who participated in this event.  Below is a list of links to participating agencies:

VAPAHCS Western Blind Rehabilitation Center

The Blinded Veteran's Association (BVA) Northern CA

Palo Alto Host Lions Club

Bookshare

The VISTA Center

Palo Alto Mayor, Mr. Yiaway Yeh, and his staff

The Palo Alto Weekly On-line Magazine

The City of Palo Alto

WBRC Hosts Open House

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) recently hosted an Open House Event for local Alumni, invited VAPAHCS Employees, and VA Blind Rehabilitation Staff in Northern California.  The event included 60-minute group tours of the new center which incorporated education about each skill area, prosthetics, and specialty programs.  The event also included light refreshments and a slideshow of WBRC through the years.  

Photos of the WBRC Open House, details follow below.

 

WBRC Open House photographs clockwise from top left: John Kingston educates a group on the CNVR  program and demonstrates use of the Neuro Vision Technology light system; Rosalyn Conanan orients VA staff using a tactile map of the new building; Kristen Collins educates a group on adaptive medical equipment; Cory Tschogl (right) and Daniel Penrod (left) demonstrate visual aids and provide written materials to their tour.