AHEAD of International White Cane Day tomorrow, and with support from the NSW Disability Services Minister John Ajaka, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is today launching its ‘Have cane, am able to work’ employer awareness campaign.
The campaign aims to get more people who are blind or vision impaired into the workforce.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is urging business owners to open their eyes to the benefits of employing someone who is blind or vision impaired.
The call follows an online poll of the organisation’s clients last month, which revealed that 37 per cent of those who are of working age (15 to 64 years old) are currently unemployed, but 91 per cent of these clients want a job, indicating an untapped resource.
“Research and employer feedback shows that people who are blind or vision impaired make great employees because they are loyal and determined to work hard and do a good job,” said Dr Graeme White, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT CEO.
“Despite this, and the fact many people with a vision impairment are willing and able to work, they are four times more likely to not have a job than the average Australian.
“Our campaign aims to alleviate common employer concerns including that someone who can’t see can’t work because they won’t be able to get to and around work safely or be able to read emails or use a computer.”
Dr White said mobility aids such as the long cane, Guide Dogs and, text-to-voice technology facilitates employment options for those visually impaired.
International White Cane Day is held on October 15 each year to raise awareness of the importance of the white cane and how it can aid mobility and independence for a person with vision loss.
People who are blind have used canes as mobility tools for centuries, but it was not until after World War I that the white cane was introduced.
This year marks 93 years since the white cane was invented.
In 1921, an English photographer from Bristol was uncomfortable with the amount of traffic around his home, painted his walking stick white to make it more visible.
Facebook comments