photo: whitecaneday.org
The celebration which is the first activity of the Sight Saving Month Celebration in August aims to:
- stimulate public awareness on the rights and welfare of blind persons;
- promote recognition and acceptance of the white cane as symbol of mobility for blind persons;
- serve as a vehicle of information on the program being implemented by the government and non-government organizations which adhere to the promotion of the welfare of visually impaired persons; and
- promote and protect the physical, moral and social well-being of blind persons.
The White Cane Inter-Agency Committee with the Department of Education (DepEd) as lead agency concurred that the celebration will be conducted from July 30 to August 4, 2012. The following activities may be undertaken at the regional, division, and school levels during the week:
- Hanging of streamers;
- Walking with the Blind;
- Holding of academic contests such as Braille reading and writing contest, Mathematics (Abacus) contest, Quiz V.I., cultural show and other activities which highlight the talents and skills of the visually impaired students;
- Conduct of sports activities for the blind;
- Holding of symposia, fora and panel discussions relevant to the prevention and rehabilitation of blindness;
- Inviting opthalmologists/optometrists to conduct free eye examination and screening of visually impaired students;
- Sharing of information on best practices concerning the education of visually impaired by inviting blind students or educators as resource persons and other professionals working for the welfare of the blind; Distribution of white canes, talking watches to selected blind students; Conduct of entrepreneurship, employment and livelihood training and workshop;
Conduct of demonstrations on the use of computer and ICT gadgets for the visually impaired.
Enclosure No. 1 contains the matrix of the activities in the National Capital Region (NCR), which may serve as guide in the conduct of the celebration.
Other government organizations (GOs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and civic organizations may be tapped for assistance. The SM Management, a strong advocate of Special Education (SPED) is offering its malls as possible venue for the celebration.
All SPED Centers, public and private schools with SPED programs are encouraged to observe the White Cane Safety Day with appropriate activities. However, activities to be undertaken should not disrupt classes as stipulated in DepEd Order No. 9, s. 2005 entitled "Instituting Measures to Increase Engaged Time-on Tasks and Ensuring Compliance Therewith."
A brief consolidated narrative report with pictorials on the celebration shall be submitted to Mr. Romeo M. Mina, Senior Education Program Specialist-Special Education Division-Bureau of Elementary Education (SPED-BEE), 2nd Floor, Bonifacio Building, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.
Enclosed is the Feedback Report Form (Enclosure No. 2) to be used in reporting the activities undertaken during the week. For more information, please contact this Office at telephone no.: (02) 631-9993.
Download Enclosure No. 1: 2012 White Cane Week Celebration Activities
Download Enclosure No. 2: Agency Feedback Report on the 23rd White Cane Safety Celebration
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