UPDATED | Lighthouse to recognize White Cane Day
One of the most dangerous things a person who is blind or visually impaired can do is cross a busy intersection.
That’s especially true in Southwest Florida, where some of the busiest intersections see tens of thousands of cars every day.
On Monday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bell Tower in Fort Myers, the Lighthouse of SWFL will hold its annual White Cane Day to bring attention to those in our community who have low vision or blindness, and to the White Cane Law.
Participants will have the opportunity to experience what those with poor or no vision do when they cross the street by crossing one of the busiest intersections in Lee County.
Michael Brust, orientation and mobility specialist at Lighthouse of SWFL, founded the event in 2007, shortly after joining the organization.
“There were other organizations holding smaller events, and we decided why don’t we do it. We’re an agency that deals with the blind,” Brust said.
The event has been held since 2007 and, until 2019, it was held in North Fort Myers, near the Lighthouse facilities, at the intersections of Pine Island Road and U.S. 41 and Business 41.
The event was cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, scaled back in 2021 when it was held at FGCU, and cancelled in 2022 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Dotty St. Amand, executive director of Lighthouse, said the event was moved because organizers sought a more centralized location to the three counties it serves — Lee, Hendry, and Glades.
“Lee County has also built a new transfer station for the bus system right there across from the Bell Tower. This provides Michael and our instructors to highlight the many facets of what we do,” St. Amand said. “Besides, some people can’t make it to North Fort Myers.”
Brust said to teach someone the skills to walk the streets takes months, since you need to use your other senses, such as hearing, to be able it do it more safely.
“You’re listening for traffic one way, paying attention to it the other way, all at the same time. That takes practice,” Brust said. “For people who do it for the first time, it’s an eye opener. They don’t know what’s involved with a blind individual. They take it for granted.”
Participants can expect to be aided in navigating all four crossings by volunteers and by some who are blind or have low vision. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is expected to participate as well.
“I want people to appreciate the dangerous environment that blind individuals find themselves in. We live in a time when there are too many distractions for drivers,” Brust said. “They’re looking at their GPS or texting, we’re all in a hurry, and the area has grown.”
The event is also to bring awareness to the state’s White Cane Law, which states that when a pedestrian is crossing a public street or highway, guided by a dog or carrying a cane which is white in color or white tipped with red, drivers must come to a full stop and allow the pedestrian to cross.
For more information on Lighthouse of SWFL, go to lighthouseswfl.org or call 997-7797.
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