International White walking stick day ended
October 15th has passed, which is a special day for the Liepāja society of the blind, because it is the international “White walking stick day”. The festive feeling and good mood this year was sent electronically to all members, volunteers and collaborators who have self-indulged their time over the past year and put their work into raising the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Given the gathering restrictions in place, a decision was made to make the International White walking stick day celebrations remotely this year, but conjure up a sense of festivities anyway. This year cards were sent out for all members and volunteers, as well as for the most active 160 members, gifts were prepared, for the time invested in the Liepāja society for the blind. As well as throughout the week from October 11th to October 15th, all interested parties were able to visit the Liepāja society for the blind to see handicrafts made by people with disabilities and see how what we have done this year in the video plot.
The White walking stick day event was unusual this year, but like other years, along with music, poetry and thank you. Aigars Bušs, a Member and board Member of the society, dedicated Leonīds Breikšs beautiful poem, “Dzērves”. As well as in order to promote the festive mood, of course, ther also was a musical performance by Kirils Švidčenko (PED. Dace Milzere), a pupil of the school of music in Liepāja City. Kirils performed on the acoustic guitar. As well as his speech was honoured by Māris Ceirulis, Chairman of the society, in which he shared his work and future plans during this year. It is possible to view the annual report, as well as this prepared video, on the website of the Liepāja society for the blind - the redzigaismu.lv and Youtube.com account.
Street act
October 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., in honor of White walking stick day, we hosted the annual street event, held this year on Ģenerāļa Baloža street, to raise awareness among the public about inclusion of people with visual disabilities in road traffic. Paragraph 147 of the Latvian Road traffic Regulations provides that in any case the driver of road transport, also outside pedestrian crossings, must let blind pedestrians pass, indicating a signal with a white cane. Two people with visual disabilities, Māris Ceirulis, head of the society for the blind, and Aigars Bušs, board Member, participated in the street act. There were also parts of drivers this year who missed the white cane signal, but prolonging with last year there are obvious improvements. Some drivers reduced their speeds, but the driver pulled over rather than stopped the vehicle. Such a move does not, of course, create safe conditions for crossing the road. Throughout the promotion, state Police recorded violators of the rules. The most inattentive drivers were also stopped - they were drawn up infringement protocols. We hold this event every year to remind drivers to be careful, tolerant and launch blind people across the carriageway. We hope the experience will serve as a lesson for drivers and will remain in memory so blind pedestrians can feel increasingly secure.
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Activities take place within the framework of the social inclusion project financed by the City of Liepāja municipality “Palīdzēsim cits citam iedrošinot un praktiski atbalstot” (No. 26/2.8.5).
Financed by the City of Liepāja municipality
Social inclusion Project of non-governmental organisations
“Palīdzēsim cits citam iedrošinot un praktiski atbalstot”
Nr.26/2.8.5.