PM Transcripts

FILE 61
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 14 October 1979
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF BLIND CITIZENS WHITE CANE'SAFETY DAY
It gives me great pleasure to again join with the Australian
Federation of Blind Citizens in recognising the 15th October
as White Cane Safety Day.
There is a need for all of us to care more about the problems
of the visually handicapped and to do all we can to help them.
This day is in no sense related to any fund raising programme
but rather is designed to heighten the Australian public's
interest and awareness of the meaning of the use of the white
cane.
The need for the motorist and fellow pedestrian to respond
to the display of white cane is, of course, of great
importance.
White Cane Safety Day gives all of us an opportunity to reflect
on what we would experience in our everyday life if we were
visually handicapped or blind. Not just the day-to-day
difficulties of moving about, but of missing those sights
which help to enrich our environment changing landscapes,
the smiling faces of our children and friends, flowers in
bloom as well as the enjoyment of films and television.
our awareness and acceptance of the visually handicapped should
extend in a special way to children, in this the--Y6-Arf-f the
Child. We should all remember that they have a difficult
road to tread while learning to cope with their disability.
The knowledge, the very awareness of his or her acceptance
by fellow citizens can only serve to brighten the handicapped
child's outlook to the future.
I hope that White Cane-Safety Day will-be the focus for
increasing public awareness of the needs of all blind and
visually handicapped people in our community.