Gov. Doug Burgum has proclaimed Oct. 15 as White Cane Safety Day across the state of North Dakota. The proclamation was signed by both Burgum and Secretary of State Alvin Jaeger.

According to the proclamation provided by the North Dakota Association for the Blind, a white cane or dog guide is commonly recognized and identified as a mobility aid that people who are blind or have low vision rely on to travel independently. White Cane Safety Day originated through approval of a joint resolution by Congress on Oct. 6, 1964, which designated Oct. 15 of each year.

The proclamation states White Cane Safety Day is an important reminder to the motoring public that North Dakota traffic statutes require drivers of motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to individuals utilizing a white cane or dog guide.

North Dakota Vision Services and the North Dakota School for the Blind provide a full range of services, including statewide leadership, center-based programming and regionalized outreach services to meet the needs of blind and visually impaired citizens and their families.

Chartered as an independent nonprofit in 1936, the North Dakota Association of the Blind advocates for visually impaired citizens, for observance of white cane safety laws and for white cane training for people with sight loss so they can travel independently.

“On behalf of our 235 NDAB members and the other approximate 20,000 North Dakota residents who are blind or have significant uncorrectable vision loss, I thank Governor Burgum and Secretary of State Jaeger for their support. We appreciate their acknowledgment of the importance of the white cane and dog guide as valuable tools and symbols of our independence,” said Zelda Gebhard, NDAB president, in a press release.

To learn more about NDAB, visit https://ndab.org/.