October 14, 2009
Tools for Independence
People all around the world are taking time this week to celebrate White Cane Day. Here in the U.S., we celebrate the white cane both as a tool and a symbol of independence every October 15th.
Natalie Jaffee writes:
"It may have seemed long at the time, but, as evolutions go, the white cane's journey from "tsk, tsk" to "good for you" took only 34 years in the U.S. -- from the first White Cane Ordinance in Illinois in December 1930 (giving blind pedestrians the right-of-way while carrying a white cane) to October 6, 1964, when a joint resolution of Congress proclaimed that October 15 of every year would be White Cane Safety Day. By then, the white cane had become the symbol of blind persons' ability to come and go on their own. So it remains today."
People in Florida get together each year to make motorists aware of the White Cane Law. Their driver awareness program reminds people that all vehicles are required to stop anytime a person with a white cane or guide dog is attempting to cross the street.
Karen Montagnese, co-president of the Long Island Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness writes about her experience learning to use a white cane. She describes it as "...a life lesson in acceptance."
Internships are another kind of tool to help people gain independence -- the economic kind. Lighthouse International is working in partnership with a growing number of New York City-based corporations to identify internship opportunities for students who are visually impaired.
Students interested in applying for internships through Lighthouse International can find the criteria for selection, important dates and online application here.
Please share this information with anyone you know who can benefit from it.
Then, I encourage you to share your "tools for independence" suggestions with other eSight members by replying to this question:
What other tools for gaining independence have you found particularly helpful for people with visual impairments?
Posted by Jim Hasse at 11:37 AM | Comments (8)
October 06, 2009
Disability Employment in Perspective
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Recently, we received three pieces of information which gave me some perspective about disability employment in the U.S.
First, the U.S. Department of Labor recently released disability employment statistics for September 2009 that show "the percentage of people in the labor force was 22.0 for people with disabilities compared with 70.5 for persons with no disability."
You can read more about these recent findings
Second, in his National Disability Employment Month proclamation, the President writes:
"...During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recommit ourselves to implementing effective policies and practices that increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities."
Read the President's proclamation
Third, eSight member James J. Elekes sent us President Obama's announcement about what steps his Administration is taking to provide "fair and equal access to employment" for people living with disabilities.
One of those steps is a "day-long, Federal Government-wide job fair for people with disabilities."
Find more information about these federal initiatives.
What other initiatives could pave the way for
increasing employment of people with disabilities?
Posted by Jim Hasse at 08:23 PM | Comments (8)