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t 2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, January 30,1985 White Cane Week F ebruary 3rd to 9th February 3-9th is White Cane Week in Canada, and visually impaired people across the country invite the public to *See It Our Way.* Co-sponsored , by the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), this week of information and activities is designed to heighten public History of White Cane The white cane was first used to symbolize blindness in 1921 in Bristol, England, by a photographer, James Biggs, who had lost his own sight. He had such great success with the idea in his own district that he began to tell others about his discovery. He wrote to the mayors of all the cities in Britain, and eventually travelled to Australia and North America on a speaking tour. In Canada and the U.S. Rotary Clubs and then Lions Clubs took up his message and helped spread the meaning of the symbol throughout their communities. In the 1930's, inventors produced different styles of cane, such as the flexible folding cane that many blind and visually impaired people now use, slipping it into an inside pocket or briefcase when not in use. Battery powered canes, wheel equipped versions, and now laser canes have made their appearance since. The simple long cane, however, remains the most widely used, and is recognized around the world as a signal that the carrier is visually impaired or blind. awareness about visual impairment and the ways it affects people's lives. Says CCB National i President Rudy Remple; *There's a lot more to Blind people than their blindness. But lack of understanding keeps the sighted public from meeting them and enjoying ! their company. By giving ; the public the facts about visual impairment, we help them welcome visually 1 impaired people into their communities.* That's why we use the 1 theme *See It Our Way.* We want people to put themselves in the blind person's shoes for awhile. Once they've done >■ that, it's easier to know how they can help. CNIB Managing Director Euclid Herie says CNIB counts on the support of a j caring community. We know people care about visually impaired people, we have tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers working in all our programs. But Blindness is a complex disability with many implications for things like ; education and employment, i People with visual ! impairment want to be able to i contribute to society too and i for that to happen the public needs to understand what it j means to be blind. Instigation really depends on the support [ , of an informed community. ♦Blind and visually j impaired people are not asking for donations this week -- ONLY FOR RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING and IMAGINATION.* This week, stretch your imagination. *See It Our Way.* For more information contact Reta Mountjoy at 728- 8090. $1 Million Youth Corps Employment Program for International Youth Year The Honorable Susan Fish, Minister of Citizenship and Culture, kicked off the International Youth Year by announcing over $1 million in Youth Corps Program grants to provide job opportunities for Native and disadvantaged young people. More than 500 positions have been created by over 200 groups and agencies. A strong emphasis is being placed on providing jobs in areas of high employment, such as Northern and Eastern Ontario. "It is very satisfying to announce such a beneficial program at the start of the International Youth Year, especially in these times of economic challenge for our young people who are looking for work, the Minister said. "These grants will allow cultural and citizenship organizations to provide jobs for young people wishing to acquire basic job skills or having difficulty embarking on a career. At the same time, the organizations hiring these youth will benefit from their talents." The Ontario Youth Corps Program gives assistance towards the salary costs of youth who are hired by nonprofit, nonprofit, community-based and Native organizations and libraries, throughout the province, for special projects of a citizenship or cultural nature. It is designed to assist young people aged 15 to 24 who have been out of school and unemployed for at least 12 weeks. Those with physical and mental disabilities, those who have had problems with the law, and those who receive welfare aid, arc eligible. Others who have graduated from high school or a postsecondary postsecondary institution, but who are having difficulty finding career-related employment, may also qualify. Employment activities include: - inventory the collection at the Thunder Bay Public Library; - learn all the basic aspects of journalism for a local francophone weekly newspaper in Iroquois Falls; - promote the image and the outreach program of the West Parry Sound District Museum; - research the history of the Boy Scouts in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry County, from 19011 through . 1984; - receptionist and secretarial duties for the "Heritage House Development Project" of Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls; - housing renovations for the Spanish River Hand of Ojibways; - apprenticing as a sound and lighting technician for Theatre Ballet of Canada in Ottawa; • assisting with the settlement and integration of newly arrived Immigrants for the Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society; and, ■ helping train Native children to use microcomputers microcomputers on Maul'.yd:',' Island. This program is part of the : Ontario Youth Opportunities initiative which is coordinated coordinated by the Board of Industrial Leadership and Development (BILD). 1985 has been declared International Youth Year by the United Nations. The focus will be the major concerns, accomplishments and aspirations of young people f, between the ages of 15 and 24. ; Durham College ! Offers Family Relief Course For most parents, parenting is a full-time job and everyone from time to time needs to 'take-a-break.' It is usually quite easy to find family members, friends or neighbors willing to look after the children for short periods of time - but how easy would you find it if your child was handicapped. Raising a handicapped child puts added strain on families and there is a greater need for ! family members to have a break and get away for a weekend or longer, or the parents need to spend some j extra time with the other children in the family. Until the late seventies, the only way in which many families with handicapped children could get a break was to place their children in a hospital or institutional setting for a short period of time. The Durham Association for Family Relief Services was the first program of its kind in Ontario and offers a relief program for families with children with special needs or developmentally handicapped teenagers and adults. The program recruits and trains volunteer families within the communities in the Durham Region to become "relief parents." The training course "Understanding and Working With Children With Special Needs" is offered at Durham College. Through a scries of guest speakers, films, group discussions, activities and practical demonstrations, the participants will explore various handicapping conditions, learn about the care and handling of these children and available community resources, The course is open to anyone interested In furthering their knowledge about children with special needs and there is no obligation to become a relief parent after completing the course. Over the last year, there has been a tremendous Increase in the demand for the service within the Durham Region. We are, therefore, in great need of more relief parents. Anyone interested in more information about becoming a relief parent is asked to contact the program office <<iiill-:!HI2i or Marg Tippias at (I2:i-24l!ll. Section Two ) □ o m. TO snails BOWMANVILLE BUSINESS CENTRE • / ■ ■"/5 e. ■ t ri if. ; ■ V.hY ' vf■ferrv \X it Free entry with every purchase of $5.00 or more at participating Downtown Bowmanville Merchants. Draw will be made on Wed., Feb. 13th and presented to winner on Feb. 14th.