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White Cane Day is a national observance in the United States, celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane.
Lighthouse teaches many students of all ages how to use the white cane during orientation and mobility (O&M) training.
One such student is 59 year old Benny Johnson from Ft. Pierce.
Benny's story is one of incredible determination and of one who beat the odds. It begins just over five years ago when he worked throughout Europe in the robotics industry, while home in Florida on vacation he became incredibly ill with a strange undiagnosed infection which caused him to loose his right leg. He spent 66 days in the hospital and still no diagnosis, even from a CDC infectious disease doctor. He went home, with no job and no family to help him.
After months of rehabilitation, he got a prosthetic leg and learned to walk all over again. One afternoon about four months later Benny experienced one of the most terrifying moments of his life - "Just like that, the lights went out, I lost my vision in my left eye. Of course, the doctors had no idea why this happened, they attributed to the "super bug" I somehow contracted. And then one week later, BAM, the other eye went out - just like that! After days of retreat and depression and no idea what to do I flat out decided - I'm not going out like this - if death wants me, it better have its running shoes on!"
Benny went to You Tube to figure out what to do next, but with a prosthetic leg and no sight, he was tired of running into things and realized he needed more help than You Tube. He enrolled in a school for the blind in Daytona Beach, and once he came home he reached out to Lighthouse.
"I was blown away about how much you guys at Lighthouse cared - it started with Diane who taught me numerous skills to help me be more independent, but more importantly she taught me how to keep my head on straight!"
Now, a few years later he realized he needed more help with Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training and Curt entered his life. "He has taught me how to safely and confidently navigate my surroundings as I am very unstable still due to the prosthetic. I now can go almost anywhere, my white cane is my constant companion - sort of like my girlfriend, I can't imagine my life without it. I am at peace with my blindness and now I want to make the world a better place. It is a miracle I am still alive and now I want to pay it back by teaching others how to interact with blind people and make their businesses accessible for all. My ultimate goal is to get back to work and serve as an ambassador between the sighted and blind world!"
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