Mark your calendars for Austin’s 2024 White Cane Day Celebration! It’s coming up on Wednesday, October 16th from 10 am to 2:00 pm at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, located at 1100 W. 45th Street in Austin, TX.
The morning will kick off with a march from City Hall to the Texas State Capital at 8:30 am, with employees from the Travis Association for the Blind leading the way. This march, along with the Texas Workforce Commission/TSBVI march near the school, is open to everyone. Following the march, attendees will convene at TSBVI for the White Cane Day Celebration, with transportation from the Capital provided by Metro Access for TAB employees.
The festivities will commence with a reading of a proclamation from Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, accompanied by remarks from the Texas Workforce Commission and TSBVI superintendent Emily Coleman. The program lineup will also include Lighthouse President & CEO Jim Meehan and an instrumental performance by Lighthouse employee Tristian Gallegos. Lighthouse will also host a booth at the celebration, offering the popular Cane Exchange and various items for purchase from the TAB Low Vision Store.
2024 White Cane Day Shirt
Show your pride with the official Austin White Cane Day shirt.The 2024 shirt is light blue. On the front, there are big black letters that say “The Blind”, and underneath in smaller white letters it says “And Visually Impaired”. Below that, there are 4 black silhouettes of individuals: a woman with a cane, a girl with a cane, a boy with a cane, and a man with his guide dog walking across a white crosswalk in front of the capitol skyline. Beneath that, in white letters, it says “White Cane Day 2024”.
Purchase a shirt here
On the back, in white lettering, it says “Tap, tap, tap all day, everywhere from work to play.” There is a large white cane off to the side, and under the words, the same saying is written in braille. There are also a few scattered poofy white clouds floating around the words.
Click here to purchase a shirt.
What is White Cane Day?
White Cane Day, officially celebrated on October 15, is a national observance that recognizes the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired. The white cane symbolizes independence and is a tool for those with visual impairments. Originally focused on safety for cane travelers, White Cane Day has evolved to emphasize independence and equality.
Make sure to mark your calendars and come celebrate this special day with us!