Mohammed Mosharef Hossain Bhuiyan
A white cane is a mobility aid used by people with visual disabilities to navigate their surroundings. It serves as both a tool for detecting obstacles and a symbol that alerts others to that the user cannot see, thereby increasing safety. Its focus has evolved from initial safety awareness to celebrating independence and equality.
Globally, October 15th is observed as World White Cane Safety Day to recognize the achievements of people with visually disabilities and to raise awareness about the importance of the white cane. The day celebrates the white cane as a symbol of independence, confidence, equality, and promotes safety for those who use it to navigate their surroundings. It also highlights the need for accessible resources, education, and training.
According to the disability information system of Department of Social Services, 487,948 people with visual disabilities are registered with the Bangladeshi Government. Ministry of Social Welfare and organisations promoting the rights of persons with disabilities are observing the day this year with the theme “Upgradation of white cane is important for development of persons with visual disabilities”. Rally and white cane distribution are among organized to celebrate the day in Bangladesh.
I am a person with visual disabilities. I have seen the world with my eyes until the age of 18. Then, I started to see the world without them. It is my pleasure to share my story on this very important day which is dedicated for people like us living with visual disabilities.
I was very regular in sports and loved to play football and cricket. In addition to that, I like to walk, swim, and read. During my teen years, I have been facing problems in the field. Many times, I could not receive the ball properly due to my low vision. As a result, gradually I started withdrawing myself from the playground since it required a clear vision. Then I concentrated on other options such as travelling and reading. But within a few days, I have been facing difficulty in reading and writing, as well as in mobility due to my gradual sight losing. Doctors informed me that my eye problem is not curable and I am going to lost my eye sight forever.
I was so shaky in mobility at that time as well as meeting new people. I had to seek assistance from my family members or friends in case of exploring any places or things.
I was first introduced with the white cane in 2005 in a training program in Dhaka which was specially designed for people with visual disabilities. But always I kept the cane inside my bag because I felt shy to keep it in hand. Once I was carefully crossing the road when a car hit me. I could not mark the car in spite of having sufficient attention. That’s when I realised that I have to depend on the white cane and not my eyes since the world was becoming dark towards me. I, then, collected a user guide on white cane and start practising by my own. Since then, a radical change came in my mind. Gradually, my confidence developed and I frequently started exploring the busy streets, roads and public transport of Dhaka by using white Cane.
Currently, I am working as Manager in Gender Justice and Diversity programme in BRAC. Before that I worked for other national level organisations. For the last twenty years, I traveled an average 30 to 35 kilometres on working days for job purpose using public transport. In addition to that, I traveled to almost all areas of Bangladesh for the purpose of office visit and personal tour.
I have managed all those independently just using my white cane. I have attended number of overseas tour with the white cane where I confidently managed all the things. I have completed a two-year Master’s program in Australia where I attended regular classes, visited and shopped most of the time accompanied by my white cane.
White cane is, currently, the most useful device like my eyes. Usage of the white cane in Bangladesh and other countries are a bit different. In Bangladesh, we used normal short white cane since the roads and footpath of the city are so crowded. As a result, the white cane cannot be properly used here. On the other hand, people use long cane along with rolling ball in the developed countries since the roads and footpath are accessible and less crowded.
I depended on the white cane whenever I would go out of the home and when I would accept challenges. I like to be more dependent on the white cane rather than human assistance. White cane is not just an assistive device to me but this is the icon of my confidence, dignity and spirit.
The writer is a Manager of Gender Justice and Diversity Programme at BRAC
