흰지팡이의 날

한국 시각 장애인 연합회는 흰지팡이의 날을 다음과 같이 소개한다.

흰지팡이는 시각장애인이 길을 찾고 활동하는데 가장 적합한 도구이며 시각장애인의 자립과 성취를 나타내는 전세계적으로 공인된 상징입니다.

흰지팡이는 장애물의 위치와 지형의 변화를 알려주는 도구로 어떠한 예상치 않은 상황에서도 시각장애인이 신속하게 적응할 수 있도록 정보를 제공해 주는 도구입니다.

누구든 흰지팡이를 동정을 불러 일으키는 대상으로 잘못 이해해서는 안될 것입니다.

흰지팡이를 사용하는 시각장애인을 만날 때에 운전자는 주의해야 하며 보행자는 길을 비켜주거나 도움을 청해 오면 친절하게 안내해 주어야 합니다. 그러므로 흰지팡이는 시각장애인이 마음놓고 활동할 수 있는 권리를 보장해 주는 또 하나의 표시인 것입니다.

모든 나라와 국민은 10월 15일을 흰지팡이 기념일로 제정하여 매년 시각장애인의 권익옹호와 복지증진의 올바른 지식을 전달할 수 있는 다채로운 행사를 개최해야 합니다. 특히 시각장애인 시설과 단체는 흰지팡이날에 즈음하여 운전자와 보행자가 시각장애인을 보호할 수 있는 인식 계몽의 교육을 실시해야 합니다.

그리하여 모든 인류는 흰지팡이가 상징하는 의미를 정확히 인식해야 하며 시각장애인의 신체를 보호하고 심리적 안정을 위하여 제반조치를 적극적으로 강구해야 하는 것입니다.

글 출처: http://www.kbuwel.or.kr/Blind/Blind_HUN.asp

미국에서는 흰지팡이의 날이 White Cane Day로 불린다. 

지난 1964년부터 미국의 국경일로 지정됐다. 흰지팡이는 시각장애인의 상징이자 독립의 상징으로 여겨진다. 정식 명칭은 White Cane Safefy Day. 미국의 린든 존슨 대통령이 국경일로 지정하는 데 서명했다.

세계 시각장애인 협회는 최근 White Cane Day를 맞이해 다음과 같은 보도자료를 냈다.

The ability to travel safely and independently is a critical issue to everyone in our society. We all want to get to our destinations in the safest and quickest way possible. This is no different for persons who are blind or partially sighted.   While new technologies are emerging that harness global positioning systems linked to speech enabled mobile phones to enable navigation of foreign cities, such technology is not universally suitable, available, or affordable, and for most blind and partially sighted people the white cane remains the essential mobility aid.

 

The white cane is also acknowledged as a symbol representing blindness and mobility and is used by blind and partially sighted people across the world. Guide dogs are also used in some countries. 

 

As we celebrate White Cane Day on October 15^th, the World Bind Union, representing

some 160 Million blind and partially sighted people worldwide, (전 세계적으로 시각 장애인이 1억6천만 명에 이름) is concerned that some present day innovations are threatening the safe and independent travel of blind and partially sighted people.

 

Acoustic information is a primary tool for orientation by blind and partially sighted people, for example, to determine when traffic has actually stopped – rather than when it has been signalled to stop.  And when crossing at an intersection that has no traffic lights, they listen for oncoming traffic to determine when to cross.

 

All that relies on being able to hear the vehicles but in recent years “hybrid/quiet vehicles” have become more commonplace. By the time a blind person (or anyone) has heard the quieter engines of these vehicles, there is simply not sufficient time to safely cross the street.

 

We recognize the need to develop more environmentally friendly vehicles and we would not wish to stifle such innovation. However, it is essential that vehicle manufacturers design some kind of sound into these vehicles to ensure the safe and independent travel of blind persons. The technology exists to make sounds that adjust to ambient noise level unnecessary noise pollution can be avoided.

 

Another challenge relates to a new urban design concept that is being applied in many countries, namely “shared space”.  The aim is to create more pedestrian friendly, civilized streets with less traffic and lower speeds. However, the concept is most commonly delivered by means of a “shared surface” where kerbs are absent and pedestrian and trafficked areas are at the same level. Priority in crossing the space is negotiated by making “eye contact”.

 

This undermines the mobility of blind and partially sighted people in two ways: first, blind and partially sighted people rely on the kerb as an essential clue for navigation and orientation; and second, “eye contact” is quite clearly impossible for someone with sight loss.

 

In the 21^st century we should be creating town and streetscapes that can be used by everyone

in our society and which reflect the principles of inclusive which are called for in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

 

The World Blind Union calls upon governments, regulators, designers and manufacturers to establish and implement standards that will ensure universal access for all persons with disabilities.  We further call upon designers and manufacturers to consult with the World Blind Union, our members and partners in order to discuss possible implications of proposed design change so that issues which may be identified can be dealt with in the early stages.  In this way, our environment can enable safe an independent travel for everyone including those who are blind or partially sighted. 

 

For further information contact:

        World Blind Union

        Penny Hartin, Chief Executive Officer

        E-mail: Penny.hartin@wbuoffice.org

Web: www.worldblindunion.org