[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 56393-56394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27455]



[[Page 56391]]

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Part II





The President





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Proclamation 7240--White Cane Safety Day, 1999
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 1999 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 56393]]

                Proclamation 7240 of October 15, 1999

                
White Cane Safety Day, 1999

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The white cane is widely recognized as a symbol of 
                independence for people who are blind or visually 
                impaired. This simple device has given freedom to 
                generations of blind Americans by enabling them to move 
                through their communities with greater ease, 
                confidence, and safety.

                Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, former President of the National 
                Federation of the Blind who died just a year ago this 
                month, was an early advocate of the white cane and the 
                full integration of blind people into every aspect of 
                society. Dr. Jernigan used the white cane himself and 
                recognized its power as a means to allow blind people 
                to leave the confines of their homes for the outside 
                world--to go to school and to work and to make ever-
                greater contributions to their communities.

                Thanks to enormous advances in technology, people who 
                are blind or visually impaired now have additional 
                tools--such as voice recognition software, computer 
                screen readers, and braille translators--to assist them 
                in carrying out their responsibilities on the job. My 
                Administration has proposed increased investment in 
                such assistive technology as well as a $1,000 tax 
                credit to help people with disabilities offset the cost 
                of special transportation requirements and work-related 
                expenses. I have also strongly urged the Congress to 
                pass the Work Incentives Improvement Act so that 
                Americans with disabilities can go to work without 
                jeopardizing their Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

                We can be heartened today that many barriers to full 
                inclusion for blind Americans have been dismantled. But 
                the greatest barrier still remains: the attitude of too 
                many sighted people that those who are blind or 
                visually impaired are incapable of holding their own in 
                the working world. On White Cane Safety Day, let us 
                reaffirm our national commitment to providing equal 
                opportunity for all Americans, regardless of 
                disability.

                To honor the many achievements of blind and visually 
                impaired citizens and to recognize the white cane's 
                significance in advancing independence, the Congress, 
                by joint resolution approved October 6, 1964, has 
                designated October 15 of each year as ``White Cane 
                Safety Day.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 
                15, 1999, as White Cane Safety Day. I call upon the 
                people of the United States, government officials, 
                educators, and business leaders to observe this day 
                with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

[[Page 56394]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 99-27455
Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P