International White walking stick day has commenced.
October 15th has passed, which is a special day for the Liepāja society for 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 the country, 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 till October 15th, all interested parties were able to visit the Liepāja society for the blind and see handicrafts made by people with disabilities and see the progress we've done this year in the video plot.
"The White walking stick day" event was unusual this year, but like other years it was along with music and poetry. Aigars Bušs, a Member and board Member of the society, dedicated Leonīds Breikšs a beautiful poem, “Dzērves” as well as in order to promote the festive mood, of course, there also was a musical performance presented to us this year by Kirils Švidčenko, student of Dace Milzere, a pupil of the School of music in Liepāja City. Kirils played on the acoustic guitar. As well as his speech was honoured by Māris Ceirulis, Chairman of the society. In his speech he shared his work and future plans during this year. It is possible to view the annual report, as well as a prepared short video on the website of the Liepāja society for the blind - www.redzigaismu.lv and www.youtube.com account. You can also view the final presentation at https://failiem.lv/f/3wmhw6nxx
Street act
October 15th from noon at 9:00 a.m. till 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, also outside pedestrian crossings, must let blind pedestrians cross the street, 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 mostly the vehicle was pulled over rather than stopped. 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 let blind people across the driveway. 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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The measure is supported financially by the Society Integration Foundation from the State budget resources of Latvia granted by the Ministry of Culture. The project "Darbosimies un pilnveidosimies kopā – “Dvēseles veldzes dārzā"" has been prepared with financial support from the Society Integration Foundation from the State budget of Latvia. The Liepāja society for the blind is responsible for the content of the project "Darbosimies un pilnveidosimies kopā – “Dvēseles veldzes dārzā"".
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