The Stoughton Area Senior Center joins the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired to observe the Oct. 15 national White Cane Safety Day, now also known as Blind American Equality Day, as a reminder to help protect the safety of people who use a white cane. The initial proclamation in 1964 noted, "The white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and special consideration to the blind on our streets and highways." White Cane Safety Day acknowledges the law that is enforced year around and is based on the state statute entitled Blind Pedestrian on Highway. According to Wisconsin State Statute 346.26, "(1) An operator of a vehicle shall stop the vehicle before approaching closer than 10 feet to a pedestrian who is carrying a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white trimmed with red and which is held in an extended or raised position or who is using a service animal, as defined in s. 106.52 (1) (fm), and shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid accident or injury to the pedestrian. The fact that the pedestrian may be violating any of the laws applicable to pedestrians does not relieve the operator of a vehicle from the duties imposed by this subsection." For more information, contact Hollee Camacho at the Stoughton Area Senior Center, 608-873-8585, or Denise Jess, CEO/Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, 608-237-8103, djess@wcblind.org, https://wcblind.org/news/401-white-cane-safety-day-is-monday-october-15.