For people who are blind or have low vision, a white cane is a symbol of safety and independence, empowering them to navigate the world and live their lives on their own terms. The Council’s White Cane Fund provides white canes to people across Wisconsin who need them at no cost to the user. We’re nearly halfway to our $25,000 goal for this year’s White Cane Fund appeal, and four new people have joined our White Cane Circle by becoming monthly donors.
22-year-old Bridgette, who has low vision, says that stairs used to be terrifying. Unable to tell where one step ended and another began, Bridgette was spending so much time looking down to navigate stairs, curbs and uneven pavement that she was developing neck pain. Like many people with low vision, Bridgette never considered using a white cane because she believed they were only intended for people who are completely blind. After receiving a white cane, along with orientation and mobility (O&M) instruction from the Council, she says she quickly gained the confidence she needed to move through the world safely with her head held high.
“I used to constantly look at the ground to keep from falling,” Bridgette says. “I keep my head up now. I can take in what’s around me, like the birds and the trees. It’s been life-changing!”
A gift to the White Cane Fund puts a white cane in the hands of somebody with vision loss and can help us provide O&M instruction to anyone who may need it, regardless of the client’s ability to pay. This in turn empowers people like Bridgette to move through their homes, workplaces and communities with the confidence they deserve.
As we prepare to celebrate the Council’s 75th anniversary next year, we’re working toward a meaningful goal: 75 monthly donors who help sustain our work all year long. We’re more than halfway there, with 47 monthly donors. Please help us reach that ambitious goal. We recently made it easier than ever to become a monthly donor to the Council by creating a new web page for recurring gifts.