# blindness related holidays?

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by Jess227 on Wednesday, 29-Sep-2010 23:02:06

Hi folks I was wondering if there are any blindness related holidays?
For the Canes/Blindness in General I have October 15
Recently I've seen people on facebook (or other social media) talk about other holidays related to the blind. The following I know but can't find dates to...
Braille
Guide Dogs
Is there an access tech holiday....
All these different holidays are giving me a migrane. My question: Do you guys even celebrate these holidays? I know different people want different holidays. My follow up question is: Would you like for White Cane Safety Day to be changed to Blindness Awareness Day?
I ask this because I feel we should have 1 day (or one month) to celebrate and educate the public on different aspects of blindness. Before the guide dog holiday came up (I think it was earlier this month.) one of my friends in a California blindness support g roup complained. She said "White cane users have their own holiday so why not those with guide dogs?" I tell her I had no idea. I then asked "What if we didn't have a white cane holiday? How would sighties get educated? What if there were a holiday for us blindies that combined a little bit of everything? From Canes to Guide dogs, Braille to Access Tech... It'd make life easier but sadly thats now how the national holiday was created.."
White Cane Safety Day is more so kept alive in part to the Lions Club and non profit advocacy organizations (ie NFB, ACB etc.).
I know some of you don't really care. How do you feel about the annual holiday? Do you think it should be changed? Eliminated?
Just curious.

## Post 2 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Wednesday, 29-Sep-2010 23:58:22

None of these are actual holidays where people get the day off work. But every day of the year is dedicated to something, and most days have more than one special significance. Every once in awhile I'll hear something like "Today is national (insert disease) awareness day or week" etc.

## Post 3 by AgateRain (Believe it or not, everything on me and about me is real!) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 0:10:39

I think this is retarded, the sighted should get educated at the conventions we attend the same as we do.

## Post 4 by Eleni21 (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 0:45:00

And why would the sighted think it's necessary to go to our conventions? At least, if there's some kind of day where we're mentioned, it might give them food for thought. But let's face it. No one, except true intellectuals who love knowledge for it's own sake,, will go out of their way to learn about blindness. How many diseases, handicaps, alternative life styles, religions etc. have you looked up that don't involve you, a family member or a friend?

## Post 5 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 1:35:58

I think raising awareness is largely silly.
Shall I design software that notifies you of something, but does precisely nothing about it?
This whole notion basically amounts to a collossal mess of groups competing for attention, people acting as though they 'care', whatever that means, by forwarding and retweeting things a zillion times. Ever notice that when 'awareness' is raised, they don't give you a solution? No place to participate in helping the situation? No, only just help by wasting bandwidth or helping at a social function that does what? .... Raises more awareness!
No, I'd rather blind groups target students and other disadvantaged folks, and come to the rest of us working stiffs with a way to assist them in getting the tools they need: housing, education, equipment, etc.
Reminds me of the fools we used to make fun of in college, who would 'identify with' the homeless by rooting around like pigs in garbage cans looking for food! Did they offer even one sandwich to some poor fellow that got kicked out of a mental hospital and was wasting away on a bench? No, that's actual work. It's far easier, and more fashionable to 'raise awareness.'
Not only the lefties are doing it: The right does it too, except they call it taking their stand. OK we have a bunch of senseless telephone poles taking their stand on one side, and a pack of foolish bracing girders on the other, raising something, though I don't know what.
Holidays celebrate something, or someone, or some accomplishment.
I don't get it with the 'raise awareness' day, unless there is a way for the citizenry to do something useful. Otherwise it's just noise.
And days like this for the blind would be no different, except we would get the backlash. Weeeeh? I guess, if you like that.

## Post 6 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 10:16:55

Reminds me of something I heard about a debate on whether to make September 11th a national holiday. I mean what would they call it, Bin Laden's Day? What's wrong with just honoring and remembering those innocents who lost their lives in those attacks? I don't think we as blind folks need holidays.

## Post 7 by Godzilla-On-Toast (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 10:43:46

OK, this is not blindness-related, but in the spirit of being an utter smart-ass, I have to say it. I now propose that the month of October be Awareness Awareness Month. LOL!

## Post 8 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 13:35:06

LOL Godzilla. Perfect suggestion. October is already breast cancer awareness month, and I'm sure it is also designated as several other things. I once saw a listing of different awareness months and weeks and days, and every single day, week, and month of the year has several designation for some disease, group, etc. It's rediculous.

## Post 9 by Jess227 on Thursday, 30-Sep-2010 20:47:05

Crap I wasn't asking for an argument. All I wanted were simple answers. Sheesh.
It's not a actual holiday. All it is is Obama signing a proclamation no biggie. I remember having to celebrate this day with the Lions Club it was like a big deal to them but not to those not members of said organization. I remember having to stand out pasing out white cane stickers looking ridiculas doing it. But what I did find was everyone who visited my display (there were quite a few.) would read the info display board, look at the many objects on the table like a old unused cane...
As for them going to our conventions: I've never been to a convention - later next month will be my first time. So I really can't comment on that. However you can't force anyone in doing anything. Alot of people don't wanna put out their time and money traveling to these things. I'm going because I want to go - no one is forcing me. Who knows I might learn something that I never heard of. I hear these conventions are full of lectures and seminars with lots of information. I'm just going to the state conventions because thats all I can technically afford right now.
As for making holidays up: I have no idea if these other holidays are being made up. See I have a website dedicated to informing the blind and educating the sighted. And i heard about these holidays on another social network and I couldn't find much more info. I wanted to know if those other holidays were made up. Like one group was celebrating September as National Guide Dog Month and months before that Braille Awareness Day. All it did was confuse me.
Should we have these holidays? It depends on you the person. Ify ou're gonna be smitten about it then don't bother. And if you really took offense to this board why did you even bother replying? Like if they wanted to make 9/11 a national holiday - some will say yes and others will say no. Alot of people died that day and I too could've lost a family member (he was suppose to go to the pentagon for a presentation that he was giving.) so this holiday wouuld mean something to me. But to others it might be too overwhelming and thats understandable. But hey thats me - I was brought up to acknowledge such events even if they are holidays that you can't take off from work or school.
I'm doing these blindness awareness projects because I'm passionate about my disability where others don't give a cold damn. I do it because I love talking about it when asked. Speaking of work... I've gotta get off here and actually do some maintance on my website.
Don't bother answering this - I wont be on much this month to even reply.