Sarah Evans
Sarah Evans says that one of her favorite things is going for a walk in the park near her house. Legally blind from cataracts, Sarah says she was able to walk through the park without a white cane, but crossing the roads to get to the park was a real challenge. And it wasn’t just intersections; she struggled in general to get where she needed to go. “I tried to make my way around without a white cane, but getting my first cane from the Council was a huge improvement,” Sarah says. “I try to walk about four miles every day, and if I can’t walk outside every day, I really struggle.”
When Sarah first came to the Council in the summer of 2023, she received a free white cane and was trained in using it to navigate her community. From moving through the park to going to the grocery store to using an ATM, Sarah learned how to get to the most important destinations safely and independently. The Council was able to provide Sarah with that free white cane and help with the cost of orientation and mobility training thanks to your gifts to our White Cane Fund.
A gift to the White Cane Fund is more important now than ever. Earlier this year, the cost of the white canes purchased by the Council increased, and we expect another price increase this summer. Because we will continue to provide white canes at no cost to anyone in Wisconsin who needs one, the Council will have to cover 100% of the increase. The Council also continues to provide vision services to anyone who needs them, regardless of income level. Those with the ability to pay are expected to do so, but we do not turn away those who do not have the resources.
Insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, does not currently cover the cost of either a white cane or any of the vital services we provide. Your gift to our White Cane Fund helps ensure that everyone in Wisconsin who needs a white cane can receive one. They will also have access to the training they need to use their cane effectively to get around in their homes and communities with confidence.
“For someone with vision loss, a white cane is an important mobility tool and so much more,” says Fund Development Director Lori Werbeckes. “Your gift of $35 to the White Cane Fund will enable safe travel and build confidence for the recipient with each step they take. It ensures that cost is not a barrier for someone who needs a white cane.”
Your invitation to support the White Cane Appeal should be arriving in your mailbox soon. But you can give today to make an impact on the lives of people across Wisconsin who are blind or have low vision. “I am extremely grateful to the Council for giving me the confidence to live my life,” Sarah Evans says.
You can make a gift to the White Cane Fund on our website at WCBlind.org/Donate. Consider setting up a monthly gift to support free white cane distribution throughout the year. Thank you!
Listen to this year’s White Cane Appeal letter below.
