It’s International White Cane Day (IWCD) this Thursday (15th October) and members of the Casino/ Richmond Valley Branch of BCA are preparing for their annual IWCD Walk through the northern NSW town of Casino.
It’s been 20 years, and the IWCD Walk has helped transform the town.
“When we first started there were no TGSIs,” Denise Green the Branch Vice Coordinator said about the Tactile Ground Surface Indicators that help long cane users navigate the built environment.
Because it’s not just BCA members, their friends and families who participate; elected officials and staff from the local council also attend. It gives decision makers the opportunity to experience the town differently and gain insight into how important a safe, navigable environment is to people who are blind or low vision.
Like so many advocacy campaigns, it started with a need.
“We wanted a crossing on the main road coming into town,” Denise said.
Councillors and staff have been keen to engage. Denise said they like to try vision simulation glasses in an effort to understand how different vision conditions work.
“It gives them some idea what it’s like. The mayor has been so many times, he always asks for a different lot of glasses so that he can experience something different every year.”
“It really has been a huge learning curve for the people on council,” Denise said.
After their annual IWCD Walk, the participants convene at a local Chinese restaurant to have lunch, socialise and plan their next steps.
How are you spending International White Cane Day? Have you used it as a platform for advocacy? Join the conversation on Facebook here.
Meantime, BCA members in Tasmania will be offering the Lord Mayor of Hobart a different perspective of navigating Hobart this International White Cane Day.
Duncan Meerding, BCA Tasmania Branch President, will be joined by Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and other council representatives for a unique walking event designed to spark conversation, build understanding and help create a more accessible city for everyone.
The walk finishes at Hobart Town Hall, where a panel hosted by the Tasmanian branch of BCA will explore accessibility, inclusion and what makes communities truly welcoming and accessible.
WHEN: Thursday, 15th October 2026, 11am (walk) and 11.30am (panel discussion)
WHERE: The walk will begin at Elizabeth Mall at 11am and conclude at Hobart Town Hall at 11.30am.